Greetings to you all my steemit friends. Today I will be sharing with you how hard it has been most especially within the start of the dry season till now to access portable water within our society.
Talking of water scarcity in Bamenda, normally we talk of situations where we do not have available water for our community usage. This isn’t the first time in Bamenda or in any part of this country talk less of African as a whole.

Water search

When we talk of water scarcity, we refer to situations where there is scarcity of the water and stress to access the water. This is because some communities may have portable and available water but to reach there is a problem. Some have the access to the water but the water is so contaminated and not good for house usage.
When we are talking of water scarcity, in this sense we are making reference to domestic water usage and sometimes water for agricultural purposes.

Contaminated streams

Main Cause of Water Scarcity:

The main cause of this scarcity is as a result of climate change which is becoming a world threat to mankind. The climate change affects water scarcity due to its weather patterns of floods, pollution, drought and high demand and over use of the water.
Sometimes the scarcity is due to some physical conditions where there is insufficient available natural reservoirs so supply water to the community and the economy conditions where the available water reservoirs are poorly managed by the community people.

How do weather patterns affect water scarcity?

Drought

This is a weather situation where there is insufficient water supply or lack of precipitation. It’s characterized of limited streams flows, ground water reduction, insufficient reservoirs and general water shortages. This period is made up of complete dry weather conditions and can last for months and sometimes a year. This is one of the major reason there is scarcity in water within our society.

Drying up of water reservoirs

Floods

Flooding is caused by a collapse of a dam or an overflow of a river caused by intended rainfall to the land. When such situations occur, the water becomes so contaminated and not good for usage. When the dam collapsed instead there will become the problem of insufficient water supply to that community due to the reduction in the volume. This one of another reason that increase water scarcity.

Pollution

This term have for a while now become a call for concern. The reduction of fresh water is cause by huge pollution from water materials dumped into the waters.
When water is contaminated, it becomes too difficult to access water which can be used for drinking, cooking and other activities. Just a few days ago in Buea, cholera was directed which is as a result of water contamination. This makes it so difficult to access water thus leading to water scarcity.

High Demand/ Over use

Sometimes water is available but it’s poorly used. Climate change have seriously brings changes into water patterns and some people are doing what it takes to remedy this situation by creating some reservoirs.
Some people barely do not know how to manage the available water. Some people like in the case of streams, decide to use it for watering their crops while others can’t have access to the same source for drinking. The increase in the population as well necessitated an increase in water availability. All these have led to water reduction thus scarcity to access it.

High demand of water for crop production

I am so happy sharing with you this challenge of water scarcity within our community. My next post will be talking about how to remedy water scarcity and fight climate change. Thanks so much for finding time to read and comment.