First International Conference on MOLDAVIAN RISKS – FROM ...

<strong>First</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on MOLDAVIAN RISKS - FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL SCALE
16-19 May 2012, Bacau, Romania
CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND WATER RESOURCES IN
RURAL SENEGAL: THE CASE OF THE BOROUGH OF
FIMELA
Pierre Ndour 1, 2 , Alioune Kane 1 , Awa Niang 1 , Gabriel Lazar 2
1 University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Graduate School, "Water,
Quality and Uses of Water", Senegal
2 “Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, Department of Environmental Engineering and
Mechanical Engineering, Romania
Corresponding author: Pierre Ndour, nd_pierre@hotmail.fr
Abstract: Split between the mainland and the Atlantic Ocean, the Borough of Fimela
constitutes the northern boundary of the Region of the Saloum islands. The increase of its
population (49 075 inhabitants) causes an increased demand for water quality and quantity
while the reduction in rainfall has put a great pressure on the local production system. Our
study aims to analyze the impacts of climate variability on water resources and their uses.
We collected climatic data from the National Agency of Aviation and Meteorology of
Senegal. The exploitation of local development plans, the report of General Census of
Population and Housing (1976, 1988 and 2002) and a survey of farmers in the Boyar
valley allowed us to collect socioeconomic data and determine the public perception in
relation to the variabilté climate and its implications on water resources. In the Borough of
Fimela, high mean temperatures (28.6°C) combined with wind speed (2.3 m/s) and
duration of sun exposure (10.5 h/day), promote a high level of evapotranspiration (188
mm/year) and that is why the seasonal ponds dry prematurely. The rural areas of Fimela
are all vulnerable to climate variability because the economy, based on rainfed agriculture,
occupies 80% of the population. Moreover, marked by the existence of two contrasting
seasons, the Borough of Fimela lies between 400 and 600 mm isohyets where rain comes
from squall lines and the monsoon. However, the rainfall deficit (-25.34% between 1979
and 2007) has favored the extension of the salt flats that have led to a loss of arable land,
degradation of vegetation and water quality. Thus, low yields caused by increased
frequency of lean seasons promote migration of more than 58% of the population. Fimela
also faces problems of water availability in adequate quantity while tablecloths are
experiencing a strong acidity and mineralization. The electrical conductivity is everywhere
greater than 1000 µS/cm, chlorine is above 500mg/l and Fluore far exceeds 1.5 mg/l. This
results in staining of teeth and fluoreuse oseuese in some places. In conclusion, this study
highlights the problem of water in rural Senegal. Socioeconomic development and
environmental stability are closely related to the quantity and quality of available water
resources, hence the need to know the causes and indicators of climate variability for
proper development of local adaptation strategie.
Key words: Climate Variability, Water, Senegal, Fimela, Borough.
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