IAMDES – Institut Alternatif aux Modèles et Méthodes de Développement Économique et Social, was designated a Blue Community few days ago. See here an article on their work near Lake Zowla, Togo.
Download the full text (PDF French)
Summary
This article examines the urgent challenges of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and environmental degradation in the canton of Anyronkopé, located in the Vo2 municipality of Togo near Lake Zowla. Despite being surrounded by major water bodies, local communities face severe shortages of potable water due to pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and weak sanitation systems.
The report highlights that the canton’s more than 6,000 inhabitants rely largely on unsafe traditional wells, while many public water facilities are non-functional because of breakdowns and lack of financial resources for maintenance. Average daily water consumption is estimated at only 1.77 liters per person, far below the World Health Organization minimum recommendation of 20 liters. Water contamination from agricultural chemicals, household waste, and environmental degradation contributes to widespread health risks, including diarrheal diseases, cholera, typhoid, and other illnesses.
Sanitation conditions are equally critical. Open defecation remains common, modern latrines are scarce, and there is no formal waste management system. These deficiencies increase pollution of soils, groundwater, and the lake ecosystem, while negatively affecting public health, education, and local economic development.
The document proposes an integrated response centered on:
- Rehabilitation and expansion of drinking water infrastructure;
- Construction of sanitation facilities and waste management systems;
- Community awareness on hygiene and water treatment;
- Restoration of mangroves, wetlands, and biodiversity around Lake Zowla;
- Promotion of sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, and climate resilience initiatives.
The report emphasizes the close link between water access, sanitation, biodiversity protection, and economic resilience. It argues that sustainable development in the region requires coordinated investments, stronger local governance, and community-based approaches that recognize water and sanitation as fundamental human rights.
Local organizations, supported by IAMDES-Togo and the Blue Community movement, call on partners and institutions to support universal access to public drinking water and sanitation services for households and schools in the canton of Anyronkopé.
