SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS.

A climate change emergency!

As the world continues to experience climate change effects, one of the most common incidents coming along with this change is flooding.

Flooding is induced from the increase in rainfall intensities in different parts of the world including Tanzania.

Tanzania being susceptible to climate effects and with worse results due to the development situation should work even more harder to bring climate awareness to the people.

But also work on other initiatives that help lessen the effects including sustainable cities and planning.

Most African countries rest on an undefined settlement planning which makes it difficult for social systems distribution, drainage systems inclusive.

Drainage systems are among the most vital social systems that help counteract flooding effects. The major function of these systems is to drain water away from built-up areas into natural water sources like rivers and lakes. Part of these systems being water trenches and canals famously known in Swahili as ‘mitaro’.

Floods surface a ground for drowning, property destruction, infrastructure destruction and disease outbreak. Remember, all these results pay for a one way ticket to economic deprivation.

The creation of suitable drainage systems that compeer with population sizes help reduce flooding effects and in turn creates a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment.

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS SHORTCOMINGS.

Cities in Tanzania like Dar es Salaam are highly populated and settled upon so they lack the ground into which the water can sink into or a lot of trees that can absorb the water through transpiration when it rains. Due to the buildings rain water is forced to runoff the streets and hence easily flood.

In the course of heavy rain the drains are ought to be accommodative and passable or else the water runs back to flooding.

The objective of the drains is to direct the rain water into natural water sources like a river or a lake. As a results cities like Dar es Salaam need to have stronger, passable and accommodative drainage systems in order for the streets to breathe free from flooding.

Another challenge in the drainage systems of highly populated areas is the absence of pollution management in the systems. As the water runs along the streets it gets contaminated with a lot of particulates that are water pollutants i.e. chemicals, bacteria and human waste. Water drainage problem solved but another problem of natural water source pollution is birthed.

GREEN SOLUTIONS.

These are environment friendly solutions to environment degrading problems. In case of eco-friendly drainage systems the following are suggested green solutions:

 Planning and designing definite settlement plans that drains can easily be inserted and accommodate the needs of everyone from the community. Cities need to consider their settlement plans.

 Building permeable roads and pavements that let rain water flow into the ground slowly reducing its amount on the surface.

 Introduction of technological approaches that allow water treatment along the drainage system. This is more of water recycling points inside the system so that the water can be treated as It moves along the system until it reaches its natural source destination.

 Promotion and support of new innovations that lead to more green spaces like city center parks and garden reserves.

The idea of having sustainable communities, free off flooding effects is contingent to the existence of better drainage systems.

Consequently, Tanzanian people, mandated leaders, influencers, environmentalists and policy makers should tighten the grip into putting up favorable drainage systems and good management methods for those systems.

The corroding effects of climate change have already made way into our societies, significantly affecting our resources (both natural and human) and social systems. The world has to come to terms with the undeniable fact that we are on a state of climate emergency.

The ‘should haves’ best be the least of our worries unless time can offer us a turn around, until then everyone from everywhere in every way possible should responsibly take actions to reduce global warming emissions and creating more sustainable life systems.