Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2.6.3 The Case of Water Point Mapping in Tanzania
One speci
ned by the
United Nations (UN
2001
) addresses access to safe drinking water and basic san-
itation, which is still problematic in many developing countries (Gin
c target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) de
-Garriga et al.
2013
). Adequate evaluation of the status of public access to safe water needs
accessible, accurate and reliable data for mapping based on comprehensive (in
spatial and temporal terms) and reliable, yet cost-effective and easily implementable
monitoring.
WPM is a planning and monitoring approach for identi
é
cation of water infra-
structure (e.g. location of wells) as well as data collection about the functionality
and status of water sources (e.g. water quality) (Nyitambe
2014
). WPM is de
ned
by Nyitambe (
2014
) as a system that
is an integration of hardware, software,
methodologies, data, processes and users dedicated to collecting, storing, pro-
cessing and analysing water-related information and giving feedback for public
use
'
. The data collection can be carried out with varying methods and technologies
ranging from simple spreadsheet to GIS-based visualizations. It was originally
designed and promoted by WaterAid in Malawi in 2002, although in recent years, it
has been carried out in different African countries [e.g. Tanzania (Nyitambe
2014
)]
by a number of stakeholders (WaterAid, SNV, Ingenier
'
í
—
ApD,
Concern, etc.) (WaterAid and ODI
2005
). The approach is now being promoted by
a growing number of organizations and governments, e.g. the Ministry of Water in
Tanzania, see
http://wpm.maji.go.tz/
.
Over the years, it has evolved to cater to the
needs of new environmental and political situations and reflect differences in
complex and changing national water sectors (Welle
2010
).
WPM should be seen as one component and placed into context of Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM) or in an even wider nexus context.
Regarding an improved water management, Barry et al. (
2009
) as well as Muller
(
2009
) give
comme il faut
examples from Africa (Mali and South Africa).
Sivakumar (
2011
) requests the setting up of national drought policies for the
countries concerned. FAO, in 2012, suggested an information system on water and
agriculture that could be the basis of such nexus index.
A comprehensive and yet concise account of modern integrated river basin
management, e.g. by means of digital models and decision support systems, is
given by Hassing et al. (2013). Striking positive examples of successful (and in
some cases also less successful) water governance in India and China are given by
GWP (
2013
). The
a Sin Fronteras
findings reported represent the lessons learned and may well be
applied to Africa, too.
Gan et al. (
2013
) have been assessing drought, climate and hydrological con-
ditions in Africa based on the application of remotely sensed geospatial data and
various models. Best practice examples from Namibia and South Africa on pres-
ently successful integrated water management are given by Ibisch et al. (
2013
).
Following the suggestions made by Tsegai and Ardakanian (
2013
) about the global
capacity development in the water sector, at the beginning of the twenty-
rst
century, Tanzania started activities for a nationwide WPM initiative (Welle
2006
).
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