ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION IN THE INFORMAL NEIGHBOURHOODS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ZIGUINCHOR (SENEGAL): THE EXAMPLE OF NEMA 2 AND COBODA

Abstract

Ziguinchor, like African cities in general and Senegalese in particular, continues to grow and expand. Its population continues to grow, precarious and informal neighborhoods too. The water needs of the populations are growing. Public authorities are increasingly proving their inadequacies in meeting the needs of the population. This inertia of state authorities, coupled with extreme poverty, has made it difficult to access drinking water. Thus, most households source well water that does not meet the quality of drinking water according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) causing real public health problems. This article, based on observation, field surveys and analysis of socio-economic data correlated to geomatics, aims to highlight problems related to access to drinking water and excreta sanitation while taking into account the local means and the social context of the neighborhoods of Nema 2 and Coboda. The results first made it possible to characterize the socio-economic situation of households and basic infrastructures; second, to assess the level of supply and consumption of drinking water by households and finally, to mount the palliative means put in place by the population for the excreta disposal.