12 Water Management Policy for Freshwater Security …
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are polluted by discharges linked to sanitation deficits (bacteria, chemicals, heavy
metals, nitrates). In these areas, the quantity of water available is not the problem, but
rather water quality and the cost of its mobilization are the major concerns (Senegal
National Blue Book Committee 2010).
Solutions have been proposed to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the adaptive
capacity of populations and ecosystems. Ensuring freshwater security through more
efficient water management will contribute to development objectives, adaptation
to climate change and disaster risk reduction (AMCOW 2013). Climate disruption
introduces new constraints and exacerbates those already faced by the Senegalese
government and its water partners. Variables include water availability, variations in
weather and extreme weather phenomena, and increasing uncertainty (World Water
Council 2016).
Water is inextricably linked to climate, so global climate change and how it is
managed worldwide has serious implications for water resources and regional development. Indeed, climate change impacts on water resources are already visible in
the Sahel countries, including Senegal, in the forms of variation in the average and
geographical distribution of rainfall, increase of evapotranspiration, recrudescence
of periods of drought and heavy rainfall (World Water Council 2016) and recurrent
droughts and floods. These resurgent effects have socioeconomic impacts which are
weighing on the country financially, necessitating that the government implements
urgent action to mitigate their effects and build resilience. These additional pressures,
compounding the existing over-exploitation in many parts of the country, intensify
the challenges ahead.
Senegal has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of climate change
(Table 5), including awareness campaigns to ensure that the public is informed
about climate change and related issues, such as mitigation and adaptation measures
(Chitambi 2017), and adoption of new strategic planning instruments such as the
National Action Plan for Environment (NAPE), the National Action Plan to Combat
Desertification (NAP/TCD), the Senegal Forest Action Plan (SFAP), the National
Strategy for the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
the Program of Action on Biological Diversity, the Action Plan for the Protection of
the Ozone Layer and the Hazardous Waste Management Plan (Environment Code).
Senegal has also increased water supply strategically through a hydraulic mobilization policy, using dams and wells. Since 2015, Senegal has been actively implementing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and benefitted in 2016–2019 from the
Scientific Support Project to the National Adaptation Plans processes (PAS-PNA).
Laws and codes are often essential for managing freshwater security in Senegal.
The policy is developed through a decentralized process that increases local capacity
that can be otherwise limited by the lack of financial and technical resources (Assetto
et al. 2003). For water management to be effective and politically feasible, it must
balance policy, economics, the environment and national security (Allen 2002). For
example, Law No. 2001-01 (Environment Code), Law No. 81-13 (Water Code) and
Law No. 2009-24 (Sanitation Code) remain to a large extent adequate to ensure the
safety of the water. However, as circumstances evolve and weaknesses are identified,
some codes are being revised in Senegal to adapt them to the current conditions.
269
are polluted by discharges linked to sanitation deficits (bacteria, chemicals, heavy
metals, nitrates). In these areas, the quantity of water available is not the problem, but
rather water quality and the cost of its mobilization are the major concerns (Senegal
National Blue Book Committee 2010).
Solutions have been proposed to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the adaptive
capacity of populations and ecosystems. Ensuring freshwater security through more
efficient water management will contribute to development objectives, adaptation
to climate change and disaster risk reduction (AMCOW 2013). Climate disruption
introduces new constraints and exacerbates those already faced by the Senegalese
government and its water partners. Variables include water availability, variations in
weather and extreme weather phenomena, and increasing uncertainty (World Water
Council 2016).
Water is inextricably linked to climate, so global climate change and how it is
managed worldwide has serious implications for water resources and regional development. Indeed, climate change impacts on water resources are already visible in
the Sahel countries, including Senegal, in the forms of variation in the average and
geographical distribution of rainfall, increase of evapotranspiration, recrudescence
of periods of drought and heavy rainfall (World Water Council 2016) and recurrent
droughts and floods. These resurgent effects have socioeconomic impacts which are
weighing on the country financially, necessitating that the government implements
urgent action to mitigate their effects and build resilience. These additional pressures,
compounding the existing over-exploitation in many parts of the country, intensify
the challenges ahead.
Senegal has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of climate change
(Table 5), including awareness campaigns to ensure that the public is informed
about climate change and related issues, such as mitigation and adaptation measures
(Chitambi 2017), and adoption of new strategic planning instruments such as the
National Action Plan for Environment (NAPE), the National Action Plan to Combat
Desertification (NAP/TCD), the Senegal Forest Action Plan (SFAP), the National
Strategy for the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
the Program of Action on Biological Diversity, the Action Plan for the Protection of
the Ozone Layer and the Hazardous Waste Management Plan (Environment Code).
Senegal has also increased water supply strategically through a hydraulic mobilization policy, using dams and wells. Since 2015, Senegal has been actively implementing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and benefitted in 2016–2019 from the
Scientific Support Project to the National Adaptation Plans processes (PAS-PNA).
Laws and codes are often essential for managing freshwater security in Senegal.
The policy is developed through a decentralized process that increases local capacity
that can be otherwise limited by the lack of financial and technical resources (Assetto
et al. 2003). For water management to be effective and politically feasible, it must
balance policy, economics, the environment and national security (Allen 2002). For
example, Law No. 2001-01 (Environment Code), Law No. 81-13 (Water Code) and
Law No. 2009-24 (Sanitation Code) remain to a large extent adequate to ensure the
safety of the water. However, as circumstances evolve and weaknesses are identified,
some codes are being revised in Senegal to adapt them to the current conditions.