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Climate Change: How Sand Extraction And Waste Disposal In A Stream Causes Flooding And Water Pollution [MUST READ]

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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he recurring flooding and pollution of stream water in many metropolitan communities in Kaduna have garnered a lot of attention from the people, recently. Water pollution is endemic not just to human health and domestic use; it adversely affects aquatic habitats and the ecosystem.

Contaminated water is a major threat among communities in Africa. It is estimated that 115 people die every hour in Africa from diseases linked to poor sanitation, contaminated water, and improper hygiene – according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNDESA.

During an observation and research in Bayan Dutse community shortly after the July 23 flooding, it has been discovered that the major cause of the unusual stream water level was due to the disposal of waste into the community stream which flows down into River Kaduna.

Although the people living by the stream have not experienced a monumental flooding like July 23. While waste collection programs initiated by the indigenous government are inactive, the people dispose of domestic wastes into the stream, not minding the disastrous environmental impact to the ecosystem.

Local youths in the area extract sand from the stream, mainly for economic reasons. And with trees cut down from the banks of the stream for fuelwood, years of rain season have caused gully erosion, therefore, opening up the stream farther to nearby houses and shops. Sand extraction has created more depth and collapses the sides of the channel, along the edges of the stream.

Aquatic life and habitat

According to research, 15 years ago, aquatic life in the stream was 35% more than what lives under the water today. Local fishermen take their lines and hooks to the stream for a few catches on Tilapia and reptiles – which are often caught.

Domestic waste can release harmful chemicals into the stream, which flows down to other water channels and seep into the groundwater. This could cause harmful effects to the species that drink the water and potentially increase the risk of endemic water-borne diseases.

The stream has a bad smell, clogged with decomposing wastes, and sometimes bodies of dead animals. It’s the source of laundry water for a small group of the disadvantaged people during the dry season, when the rains are gone and stored water is used up.

The long-term effects of these challenges have not yet been efficiently explored. It can trigger changes in aquatic survival and water poisoning among other things.

Flooding

According to Elisha Bagai, who lives nearby the stream, on July 23, 2020, at around 11 pm when “the rains started falling heavily, the water level exceeded the stream banks. The period of the downpour from that time through 3 am flooded the houses built beside the stream. Most of the occupants had to evacuate with their family and property for fear of being drowned.”

He narrated that the stream had increased depth due to perennial sand extraction and fallen trees, making it prone to flooding because suddenly, it began to gain more space and the edges collapsed into the stream. There’s much concern now, but the community lacks the will to challenge such activity.

Benjamin Awka, whose house was flooded, recounted his losses and experience on July 23. He said that “the stream overflow reached the lintel of his house, destroying some of his electronic gadgets.” “That fateful day, you could see people’s mattresses and dirts flooding in the waters”, he further said. The floods overflowed the community bridge and made it unaccessible for hours.

It would be important for people living by the stream to be really conscious and stewards of the resource. Community initiatives for protecting it can mitigate any future flooding in the area, as much as it could save the local environment from deteriorating any further.

Forecasts and impact on the environment

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP, reports an “above normal” rainfall in the country. That about 400mm rainfall is expected in the north and 300mm of rainfall in the south is not uncommon but the frequency may increase.

The year 2020 rainfall predictions should not be taken with the least concern, especially to people living nearby streams and rivers. More than a thousand people could be at the risk of being affected by flooding.

As global warming continues to exacerbate sea level rise and extreme weather, Kaduna state’s stream and river banks are expected to overflow. Flooding occurs in a number of ways, and each may be affected by climate change. So, waste disposal in streams must be discouraged, and a campaign against such human activity is needed to sensitize people.

However, the cutting down of trees, growing by streams and rivers opens up the water channels, and it makes erosion difficult to naturally control. In such an environment facing devastating conditions, it’d be practical to use natural ways of controlling flooding such as planting more trees by the stream banks and banning waste disposal in the waters.

Our environment could pose a threat to humans if it’s mismanaged, exploited, and savaged. Terrestrial and aquatic life is in danger because they depend on the natural environment to survive; some require specific habitats. The toxic effects of domestic wastes to species and their ecology are unimaginably destructive.

Francis Annagu writes from Southern Kaduna; he’s a documentary photographer, poet, and freelance journalist.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer.

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