Causes of the Water Crisis in Africa (and How We Fix It)

The global water crisis claims thousands of children’s lives every day, and unsafe water is responsible for a large share of hospitalizations worldwide. So what are the causes of the water crisis? First let’ s start with some good news: the crisis is solvable. Locating clean water is the first step—and while that sounds daunting, a practical solution often exists in deep borehole drilling. Many regions considered “water-stressed” have groundwater stored in aquifers—natural underground reservoirs formed as water filters through porous rock. Aquifers often contain water that’s safe to drink, but accessing it requires drilling to significant depths. Modern drilling rigs make this possible.

Finding the water (step one) and reaching it (step two) only matter if step three is in place: a reliable system to keep water flowing for years. That means planning, community organization, trained mechanics, spare-parts supply, and clear follow-up. See real projects on our Interventions page and learn why hardware choices matter in Well Materials and Construction.

What Makes Africa’s Water Crisis Different

While sub-Saharan Africa has a growing middle class, many countries still have large, dispersed rural populations for whom piped water remains out of reach. Life cannot exist without water, but surface sources aren’t necessarily clean or safe. Open groundwater sources can look clear yet still be contaminated—by livestock standing in waterholes, or by runoff pollution.

Africa’s climate adds stress: long dry seasons (drought and crop losses) followed by heavy rains that flood latrines and contaminate shallow sources. In some regions, conflict disrupts maintenance and supply chains. Food storage can be limited for staple crops in certain areas, forcing families to spend more daily time on food and water—leaving less time for school and livelihoods. These factors explain why droughts and water stress can be more severe in some African regions than elsewhere.

Core Causes of the Water Crisis (the Real “Whys”)

1) The High Price of Dirty Water

Rural areas frequently lack sewer systems, piped networks, or even nearby boreholes. Centralized systems are cheaper per person in dense cities, but costs rise when households are spread out. Public and NGO funding often prioritizes construction but not long-term operations and maintenance (O&M). Without a plan for major repairs, water points can fall into disuse. Effective projects build sustainability into the design: robust infrastructure, accountability, preventive maintenance, and local repair capacity. As a result, well-sited borehole wells are safe, long-lasting, and extremely cost-effective compared with the human and economic costs of dirty water. See how we bridge this gap in our Interventions.

2) Distance and Logistics

Reaching remote communities adds cost for rigs, compressors, fuel, and parts. When equipment fails, a trained mechanic may be hours away, and the spare part days away. Clustering projects reduces transport costs and improves service responsiveness.

3) Hydrogeology and Depth

In parts of East Africa, groundwater can sit 50–80 meters below ground or beneath hard volcanic rock. This demands careful siting, appropriate casing and screens, and materials that withstand years of service without corroding. Well Materials and Construction explains why these choices matter.

4) Climate Variability

Long dry seasons and extreme heat can dry up surface water sources; intense rainy seasons can flood latrines and contaminate open sources. Properly sited borehole wells that tap deeper aquifers are more resilient to these weather-related shocks.

5) Urban Systems Under Strain

Fast-growing towns can outpace utilities’ capacity. Intermittent service pushes families to expensive water vendors or back to unsafe sources—especially when household budgets are tight.

6) Keeping Water Wells Operational Over Time

Every water point will need maintenance. The realistic approach is to assume things will break and to ensure that interruptions are short: train local pump mechanics on the installed model, stock affordable spare parts, and help communities organize small repair funds. Without these, minor issues turn into long outages.

7) Conflict and Displacement

Instability and disasters can displace large populations—suddenly increasing demand for food, water, and sanitation and overwhelming limited local services.

8) Sanitation and Hygiene Lag

Water and sanitation are linked. Water points without nearby latrines, handwashing, or proper drainage are more likely to be re-contaminated and surrounded by mud and standing water. See how water connects to education and health in How Does Clean Water Change Lives.

Why It’s More Severe in Africa Than Elsewhere

• Higher rural share and longer distances → higher per-capita service costs.
• Lower public spending per person in rural services and a smaller tariff base.
• Greater climate variability affecting shallow sources and fragile networks.
• Thin supply chains for pumps and parts; fewer domestic manufacturers.
• Fragility in some regions interrupts routine maintenance and follow-up.

What Actually Works (Proven Solutions)

• Water wells: Well-sited boreholes are among the most cost-effective, permanent ways to provide safe water in rural communities.
• Community-centered siting: Place wells at schools, clinics, and central village points to maximize daily benefit.
• Trusted hand pumps: Standard models (e.g., India Mark II) with concrete aprons, sanitary seals, soak pits, and upgraded stainless-steel riser pipes; simple fencing to keep livestock away.
• Small solar piped systems: Use where demand exceeds hand-pump capacity; pair with secure siting, trained caretakers, and a parts pathway.
• Active water user committees: Clear roles for fee collection, cleaning, and first-line maintenance; trained local pump mechanics; stocked spare parts—so downtime is measured in hours, not weeks.
• Routine water-quality checks: Field testing (turbidity, pH, EC) plus targeted tests (iron, manganese, fluoride, bacteriology) with simple treatment where needed.

Explore impact stories and data in Interventions and Stories.

Uganda & South Sudan: What We See on the Ground

In northern Uganda and across South Sudan, depth, geology, and distance drive costs. Where we’ve drilled, close-to-home wells reduce hours of walking, cut waterborne illness, and keep students in class. For higher-demand sites, solar systems add volume and convenience when paired with trained caretakers and secure tanks.

Causes of the Water Crisis: Myths vs. Realities

Myth: The world is running out of water.
Reality: Earth’s water cycles through a closed system; access and reliability are the core constraints. For a quick explainer, watch this short video:
How much water is on Earth?.

How Donors Can Help—Smart Vetting

Choose partners who are on the ground, own or directly supervise drilling, and design for the long run with clear follow-up. Ask about siting, materials, spare parts, mechanics, and reporting. See our donor checklist: How to Vet Water Charities.

The Path Forward

Invest in permanent sources, local maintenance, and simple designs communities can sustain. Map assets, monitor uptime, fix small problems quickly, and keep parts nearby. That’s how new builds become reliable water points that last through seasons and school years.

References & Further Reading

• WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (coverage & service levels):
  washdata.org/monitoring/drinking-water
• World Bank – WASH financing & service sustainability:
  worldbank.org/en/topic/watersupply
• Rural Water Supply Network – handpump standards & sustainability:
  rural-water-supply.net
• IPCC/UN climate resources (Africa):
  ipcc.ch  |
  un.org/en/climatechange