Impact of improper drainages on the environment of Kantolomba compound

Kantolomba compound

By Winston Muleba JR

Kantolomba is a shanty compound located on the outskirt of Ndola district. Gethsemane Mwizabi of Times of Zambia describes Kantolomba as “a place of many contrast and contradiction. Like a rocking chair, it is a busy place. Men and women, boys and girls and children alike crowd every corner. Some lineup to draw water and others simply crowd shebeens. With high unemployment level, poverty, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies, this township knew very little about development until now.”

Some regard Kantolomba as a place for Kachasu - illicit beer. On the adjacent of the compound are Nakaputa hills and wetlands of the Kafubu River.

In Kantolomba, over the years, the need for business and more animal protein to sustain an exponentially increasing population has led to an obvious increase in pig rearing. This has given rise to monumental increase in animal dung e.g. pig dung, with attendant waste management challenges that need to be addressed. There is therefore, a desperate need for technologies that can systematically ensure the removal of pig wastes from the environment.

Former Kantolomba ward councilor Nathaniel Mwange says the compound started as a ‘squatter’ in 1907 but is in the process of being upgraded to a Township very soon.  

“A Greek man whose name was Kat Robert settled in the area. He was a contractor and used to sell bricks. When Kat Robert was staying in the area he employed a lot of nearby people and built close to 300 small apartments for them. Mr Robert formed a community which people named against his names alas in the process, some people could not pronounce it properly and hence ended up calling the place, ‘Kantolomba’ to mean Kat Robert,” Mr Mwange explains, adding that the population of people in Kantolomba is now approximately, 16, 000.

Kantolomba compound has one police station though there are no police officers at the stations; it is managed by the neighborhood watch. The compound also has a cemetery, market, one Government school - Twatemwa basic and NGO run schools namely; Emmanuel Mercy, Living Compassion, Future Matters and Rainbow.

Living Compassion Community School

Among other settlements in Zambia which were initially not planned for, Kantolomba compound does not shortfall on the list.

Years ago, Kantolomba residents had at the beginning at least to make their own provision for their basic services and the results has become quite haphazard to say the least. The problem is quickly exacerbated by the fact that residents were often unable to prevent newcomers from taking any available scrap of land until eventually the compound got so densely packed together that it is hard for some public facilities to be put in at all. 

In many settlements of developing countries, studies have indicated that drainage systems have been a big deterrent in the development of low cost settlements. It has led to serious and hazardous flooding and submergence of structures constructed on unsuitable land like low lying areas or reclaimed land for residential, industrial and, at times, commercial development and Kantolomba is one settlement in Ndola with serious drainage system challenges. It is tragic that the compound is located right in the adjacent of Nakaputa hills, making it vulnerable to the floods.

With minor exceptions, Kantolomba residents appear to be unable to undertake the necessary planning and execution required to solve drainage problems themselves. Partly, this is because their priorities lie elsewhere (the next meal for example), but it is also because effective local authority structures are lacking in the area.

A Kantolomba resident, Borniface Chipena says household level drainages which involve channeling away surface water or runoffs and waste water from individual households to the main drainage which finally joins the main drainage channel is one critical issue of concern in the compound.

Under normal circumstance in a well-planned settlement, a proper drainage system includes the pavement and the water handling system. It must be properly designed, built, and maintained and the water handling system includes: road surface, shoulders, drains and culverts; curb, gutter and storm sewer. Thus, when a road fails, whether it’s concrete, asphalt or gravel, inadequate drainage often is a major factor.

The reality is that improper drainage designs directs water back onto the road or keep it from draining away. Too much water remaining on the roads surface combine with traffic action to cause potholes, cracks and pavement failure. However, the contents of drainage water also vary from storm water which is mainly a product of precipitation, waste water or sludge, and sewage or human wastes.  In this case, water is the main contributor to the failure and damage of roads. Water can be in the form of ground water, surface water (streams and rivers) or rain, as runoff from the surrounding areas. In addition, water may flow laterally from the pavement edges or it may seep upward from a high groundwater table.  The water flow can damage the environment in several ways.

Many shanty compounds including Kantolomba are informal settlements that have come about through land invasion and lack proper planning. This means that plots are not properly demarcated to the settlers; there are no proper roads to provide access, no proper solid waste collection, no proper sanitation and no proper formalized drainage system.

As such partly, as a result of poor drainage, runoff of waste and rain water from land keeps increasing on a yearly basis, meaning that water levels during rainy season tend to erode the environment more rapidly than before the rain season. This has in turn increased rates of river bank erosion, and river bed degradation in catchments of the Kafubu River. Conversely increased flood flows have resulted in significant accretion of river beds in some lower catchments of the Kafubu River.

It is of concern that whilst the world is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target. Goal 7.D on ‘ensuring environmental sustainability’ indicates that “by 2020, a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers must be achieved. Between 2000 and 2014, more than 320 million people living in slums gained access to improved water sources, improved sanitation facilities, or durable or less crowded housing, thereby exceeding the MDG target. More than 880 million people are estimated to be living in slums today, compared to 792 million in 2000 and 689 million in 1990.” Based on current trends, the total world population without improved sanitation in 2015 was estimated to be a mass of 2.4 billion according to a 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) report. Whilst  not all sanitation need be water - borne, the need to cater for grey water (domestic  waste water) in  addition  to  storm water in  high  density urban  areas makes it important  that more   serious  consideration be given to  providing  adequate  drainage. No MDG target has yet been set for drainage; it is apparently not acknowledged to be a problem. 

A 1996 World Bank report on drainages indicates that “poor drainage conditions in developing countries are a result of weak institutional capacity, inadequate regulatory policies, inadequate governance, and generally lack of public education/awareness/participation.” 

In Kantolomba drainages and sanitation are poor; water runs over the ground during rainstorms, picks up wastes. This could contribute significantly to the spread of diseases such as typhoid and cholera, and may increase the likelihood of contracting worm infections from soil contaminated by wastes.

In addition, due to lack of adequate and proper drainages, Kantolomba environment is polluted with toxic runoff of water mixed with molasses, refuse and even pigs’ faecal matter sometimes. This, coupled with poor nutrition, could provide ideal grounds for the spread of disease that can prove fatal for the inhabitants whose immune systems may already be compromised by HIV/AIDS. 

On a yearly basis in rain season, some Kantolomba residents face disasters such as collapsing of houses and this is often attributed to poor drainage system.

Mr Mwange pronounces that despite not having proper sanitation, the compound mostly and only records malaria and diarrhea cases adding that the compound has no clinic therefore, Kantolomba residents seek medical attention from Lubuto and Twapia Clinic.

He adds that last year Government set aside a lumpum to build a Clinic in Kantolomba but on a sad note, there was no space where a Clinic could be built as most of the land has been taken up by settlers.

Apparently, one of the main problems of drainage development in Kantolomba is maintenance. The drainages are in a bad state; rarely maintained and whenever maintenance is attempted it is done partially.

The financing of the maintenance, rehabilitation and conservation of the drainage network in  Kantolomba has always been left to the Government at the state and local levels who because  of their lack of maintenance culture do not release funds for drainage maintenance at the appropriate time. The drainage network is therefore left to deteriorate. The drainage worldwide are considered critical infrastructure in any nation’s life and were paid premium attention.

“Poor drainage has the potential to affect the remnant wetlands of Kantolomba. This may reduce the habitat available for wetland species, and have effects on the natural character of wetlands. I am sure without doubt that fish habitats provided by the native Kafubu vegetation have been disturbed by the runoffs from Kantolomba due to poor drainages,” says Ms Doris Gondwe, Kantolomba resident.

Ms Gondwe, 34, adds that the attitude of some residents in Kantolomba under which these drainage channels are constructed and located is so negative.

And an investigation conducted during the field survey clearly shows that some residents have converted the drainages into refuse dump places. This has resulted in blockage of the drainages and its subsequent failures which in turn does negatively affect conditions of the road pavement and the entire environment. 

Michael Banda, 27, a Kantolomba resident observes that a great discipline over buildings is necessary to ensure that plot boundaries are observed to prevent houses from obstructing the existing drainage path as well as from occupying land needed for future drainage work.

He further states that planning should ensure setting out regular plots before construction starts. This will leave space for well aligned roads with adequate road width and road reserves that make construction of drainage easier whenever needed.

If the drainages in Kantolomba are not properly managed, the deterioration of the environment will be more serious and occur more rapidly. This will lead to higher maintenance demands and in the worst cases result in serious damage which may obstruct the traffic flow and other activities.

The reality obtaining on the ground shows that drainage is among other major problem of the compound and indicates that drainage can only be improved if residents themselves take part in the efforts to solve the problem.

Among other reasons why the drainage problem has persisted in Kantolomba is probably because most of the affected people think it is only Ndola City Council and other Government bodies concerned with the city’s welfare to help, yet this should not be the case.

Mr Banda suggests that to achieve proper drainages in Kantolomba, long sides of roads are essential to collect water from road surface and surrounding areas and lead it to an exit point where it can be safely discharged.

Mr Banda adds that Kantolomba residents must also realize that it is essential that they participate in maintaining drainages. “In Indonesia, for example, residents agreed to clean the drains in front of their houses every day and this was inspected twice a week. Community members responded well to friendly inspectors who provided support for clearing the drains. Maintaining the drains soon became part of the daily routine for responsible community members.”

Elizabeth Mulenga, 42, also suggests that “Government should note that there is a great need for adequate monitoring and control in the local construction process. This can be done by the  provision  of a standard  method  of  practice  which  will  be  strictly  followed, monitored  and  maintained. The professional bodies in the country will play a very important role at this stage. They should be able to provide a local standard of practice for the country, maintain it and monitor compliance to the use of the standard. This is because a local standard will take cognizance of the local peculiarities that will affect the environment where drainage works are located.”

Ms Mulenga adds that there is also a very urgent need for Government agencies and  concerned  bodies  to  organize  sensitization programs  towards enlightening  residents on  the need to keep drains located in their communities clean  and  not  use  them  as  refuse  dump  places.  “In  situations  where  these  residents  refuse  to  heed  environmental  sensitizations  and  warnings, enactment of laws to punish offenders with very strong enforcement  machinery should  be put in place.”

Peter Mushibwe, 47, says regular annual evaluation of drainage systems is an important part of maintaining and managing road. “Before making any pavement surface improvements, make drainage improvements. It is most economical and effective to plan and upgrade drainage as part of road surface improvements.”

Ms Gondwe suggests that professional advice and information on drainage construction and maintenance can avoid or mitigate effects such as surface flooding and ponding as a result of poorly maintained drainages. “Mechanisms for protecting wetlands will provide an integrated approach to the management of land drainage and wetlands.”

About the Author

Winston Muleba JR is a Digital Journalist, Researcher, Aquaculturist and Writer who uses media and ICT to promote environmental conservation; science, technology and innovation. He gravitates towards environment, water, aquaculture and agriculture as he is skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and expert opinion with the everyday lives and struggles of people on the ground.