Forum to Rescue Akaki from Industrial Pollute

Addis at Risk of Water and Vegi Provision from the Area, Experts Warn

Addis Fortune

July 23, 2005

By WUDINEH ZENEBE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER

A new forum established with the initiative of a department under the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission is working to find a solution to the growing pollution of the Little Akaki River, caused by factories mushrooming in the industrial zone created in Kaliti town, on the outskirts of Addis Abeba.

According to a study by the Addis Abeba Environmental Protection Authority, 35 factories release untreated waste into the river, which starts in northern Addis Abeba and crosses 13 woredas to join the Aba Samuel Lake, approximately 30Km south of Addis. The study reveals that this has led to the destruction of aquatic life in the river. It has already been contaminated by domestic, hospital, and industrial wastes, according to the study.

The Akaki River is a part of the Awash River catchments, which drain the central and eastern part of the country. The river consists of two main branches, the confluence of which is at the Aba-Samuel reservoir. It is the western branch of the river, the Little Akaki, that rises north-west of Addis Abeba on the flanks of Wechecha Mountain and flows for 40Km before it reaches the reservoir.

The situation is likely to get worse and may contaminate underground water in the area. The threatened underground water is source to 30,000 cubic metres (30 million litres) of water which the Addis Abeba Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) produces daily, in addition to the supply from the Gefersa and Dire dams, and other sources. This water, representing 14pc of the total supply to the capital, largely goes to the southern parts of Addis Abeba, in Kera and Gofa Sefer areas in Nefas Silk Lafto District and other parts south of Meskel Square, including parts of the Bole District, the Authority disclosed to Fortune.

The Authority fears the surface water in the river could pollute the underground water in addition to the pollution it is causing to its basin.

The area, Akaki, shows a high degree of interaction with ground water, according to another study by Tamiru Alemayehu (PhD), from the Addis Abeba University, Department of Earth Science, and released in April 2005.

" Downstream, the Big Akaki River affects the water supply aquifer, even if, there is a possibility of disconnection," concludes the study.

The contaminants in the river include chromium, arsenic, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese, cadmium and cobalt. These chemicals destroy aquatic life and can cause problems to the human respiratory system. The Environmental Protection Authority's study also indicates that some of the contaminants are carcinogenic.

AAWSA said that it has been proved that the river water cannot be used for drinking or other services due to the pollution.

Yet, farmers in the area utilize it to grow vegetables such as carrot, cabbage and beetroot that are on sale in Akaki, Debre Zeit and Addis Abeba.

Farmers in the river basin use irrigation and the contaminants easily get into the growing vegetables, according to the Authority, posing a potential danger to humans and animals. Getachew Argaw is one of the 66 members of Fanta Vegetable Farmers Association farming in the area. He told Fortune how he noticed the quality of their products is being affected by the degraded quality of the water.

Abonesh Dagne, a consumer in Kaliti, said vegetables grown in the area taste different, and the cabbage, particularly, if cooked and left over night, develops a bad smell.

Health authorities in Addis said the problem is beyond their capability to deal with. They want an integrated approach and efforts that involve a cross section of offices in Addis and the Oromia Regional State.

" The problem is beyond the Health Bureau's sole ability," said Dr. Eyob Kamil, head of the Addis Abeba Health Bureau. "It could only be solved by the collaboration of all stakeholders including environmental protection offices."

The forum created in June 2005 includes the Addis Abeba City Administration, the Environmental Protection Authority, AAWSA, and the Water Development Bureau of the Oromia Regional State. It is headed by Mulugeta Amaha, Science and Technology commissioner.

It is responsible for ensuring that the recommendations of the two million dollars study are fully implemented.