Introduction
Sanitation is an obligation, a regulation for municipalities. This is part of the general legislative framework for the prohibition of water pollution and the channelling of rainwater. Untreated wastewater discharges and untreated rainwater degrade natural environments, and can also render waterways unfit and make homes uninhabited. As a result, it is unfortunately noted that several municipalities support it economically, Bobo-Dioulasso, a cultural city and the second largest city of Burkina Faso, is an example. Rainwater already reigns supreme in this city.
Causes of the flooding
Bobo-Dioulasso is not safe from flooding during rainy seasons. This rainwater is not without effects to its population who is often the victim of the related damages. The main causes of these floods would be related on the one hand to the absence of gutters in some neighborhoods and on the other hand to the fact that the gutters are blocked by silting and human actions. There are indeed no sustainable gutter maintenance and monitoring structures to evacuate water to maintain a good working order. Provide services respecting the rights of employees who will be responsible for monitoring and disposing of sludge and other cleaning by-products to avoid inconveniences, such as floods, and diseases. Unfortunately, nothing concrete is being done to address the issue.
Poor gutter management-related consequences
On Thursday, June 22, 2023, torrential rain poured on the people in Bobo-Dioulasso. A rain that lasted five (05) hours ended up in disaster. It was unfortunate to see some people in the town of Sya find themselves facing a water blockade, which prevented all movement. This was the case of Kam Estelle, a resident of the Sarafalao district who found herself immersed in her own house. She said: “We were in bed when the rain started. After two hours of heavy rain, we noticed that the water was entering directly into the rooms, immediately we tried to evacuate this water but the attempt was in vain since the courtyard was already filled with water, we remained helpless to water that was causing damage to our house.
Rainwater invaded the roads. Zakaria tells us about his nightmare: “In the middle of traffic I desperately tried to return home in the rain. Arriving at an intersection, it was impossible to pass. The water flow was stronger. I waited under a kiosk until the water subsided so I could finally go home. »
Solutions
Actually, the Sya population is invited to be more vigilant and cautious during this winter season. If there is a threat of rain, it is best to stay at home and avoid going out. For those who are already outside, there is no need to drive at high speed to return home as this could cause accidents. This is frequently the case with many serious accidents on the roads. Instead, you should look for a place to shelter while waiting for the storm to pass and then return home. All the authorities of the different municipalities are called upon to find a solution in order to avoid the worst.
Conclusion
Access to water, hygiene and sanitation is a chronic problem. Burkina Faso generally suffers from climate change, recurrent drought, lack of adequate infrastructure and large disparities between areas and urban areas. If nothing is done, these floods could seriously slow down the economic activities of the country’s so-called economic cities.