Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene January - February 2016 vol.11 no.1 | Page 3

Published by Transworld Publishers Limited P.O. Box 60359 City Square Nairobi 00200, Kenya Tel: [phone] Wireless: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mobile: + 254 722 641 820 + 254 700 370 038 Website: www.afriwater.org Webmaster [email protected] January - February 2016 January - February 2016 Vol 11 No. 1 Contents 22 Global climate deal REGULARS Publisher S.N. Mwaniki Email: [email protected] 2 Guest Editorial 32 Water & Health 3 News in Brief 34 Publications Editor Kariuki Wangai Email: [email protected] 20 People 36 Roundup Assistant Editor A. Ayiro Events Editorial Consultants Befrina Igulu (Ms) Email: [email protected] Dr. Judith Nyunja Email: [email protected] Eng. Malaquen Milgo Email: [email protected] Raphael M. Kabando Email: [email protected] Eng. Prof. Patts M.A. Odira Email: [email protected] Peter Mwaura Email: [email protected] Eng. Ephraim Kisembo Email: [email protected] John Rao Nyaoro, HSC Email: [email protected] Regional Representatives: Rwanda Contact: Dr. F. Otieno Tel: [phone] Uganda and South Sudan Contact: Cyrus Ruheni Tel: [phone] Zimbabwe Contact: Marjory Kusotera-Dzapata Institute of Water and Sanitation Development Box MP422, Mount Pleasant Harare, ZIMBABWE Tel/Fax: [phone] Water & Sanitation 37 Calender 2015 ©2006-2015 Transworld Publishers Limited The deal unites all the world’s nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history. Coming to a consensus among nearly 200 countries on the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions is regarded by many observers as an achievement in itself and is being hailed as “historic”. 24 Sanitation Systems 14 World Wetlands Day 2016 More than a billion people depend on wetlands for a living ! Just stop and think about that number – and about what a wetland actually is. The Ramsar Convention defines a wetland as any land area that is saturated or flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally, along with all beaches and shallow coastal areas. 18 Humans Are Draining Even More of Earth’s Freshwater Than We Thought Humans have been trying to wrangle Earth’s freshwater since the dawn of civilization. Case in point: the 3,000-year-old Sadd Al-Kafra embankment dam in Egypt. Things like dams and irrigation obviously affect local waterways, but it’s much harder to figure out how those local changes influence freshwater supplies worldwide. 19 Greywater reuse for irrigation is safe, study shows Researchers at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have determined that treated greywater is safe for irrigation and does not pose a risk for gastrointestinal illness or water-related diseases. Graphic Designer Colman B. Moss [email protected] Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication,the Publisher will accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any loss or damage,unconsequential or otherwise suffered as a result of any material here published.The opinions expressed in the editorial are the sole responsibility of the authors or organizations concerned and not those of the Publisher. Neither Transworld Publishers Ltd nor its agents accept liability in whole or in part howsoever arising from the contents of the editorial published herein. Material in this publication does not necessarily reflect the considered opinion of the Transworld Publishers Ltd or those of the contributors, nor does mention of trade names and commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. 38 Buyers’ Guide FEATURES A global climate agreement has been finalized in Paris. What has been agreed? Many sanitation facilities are located at the lowest elevation possible and are therefore vulnerable to climate change-related sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding. More severe storm events can overwhelm facilities. Lower stream levels and higher temperatures can affect water quality. Climate change impacts on sanitation systems could have negative health implications as well as damaging ecosystems. Relocating facilities to higher elevations, separating storm and wastewater sewers, and improving treatment to produce a higher quality effluent can help mitigate climate risks. 26 El Niño leaves hunger in its wake An estimated 10.2 million people are now food insecure in Ethiopia, as a result of an exceptional drought exacerbated by the El Niño event that began last year. The situation not only in the country but also across the whole of East Africa is predicted to worsen in coming months. 28 Hygiene needs of incontinence sufferers A desk-based review of how WASH actors can better address the hygiene needs of people living with urinary and/or faecal incontinence in developing countries was conducted with funding from WaterAid UK/SHARE in late 2015 Partners Affiliate Member Member Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • January - February 2016 1