When rains hit hard who suffers the most?????

April 11, 2012 can be remember in Dar es Salaam as the day that a Tsunami was supposed to make land by 5pm but unfortunately it was never so. Although that was so the wrath of the rains associated with the Tsunami were felt resulting in a number of problems. For one i would testify the full impact of the rain can still be seen on my certificates and passport which i hope will not give me problems. Anyway the question is when all this happens who suffers the most, but what can be done.

Coming from Masaki proved to be a bigger problem than it should be. It seemed as though the rains were the ordinary Dar summer rains but without an umbrella there was seriously no cover except the bus stop shed and the occasional umbrellas of the vendors on the street. This made me think while i was under the shed when i saw an elderly woman who unfortunately survives on alms to make matters worse has only one leg. Although in the drenching rain she had no alternative but to move in the rain to be able to get sustenance.

 While there there was an element of excitement that filled my body while i saw cars passing at full speed and splashing water. Wow it was a beauty, but then my mind got professional and said is this a good or bad thing that is when i critic-ed the situation and came to the conclusion that this was actually the result of water not being drained and hence a cause for concern to the travelling motorist. The rain continued to pound the earth and i heard no choice but to run across the road which seemed to be a kilometer as cars started coming and i could not cross, at the same time i had run away from the protection of the bus stop shed. eventually i managed to cross and get to the next bus stop which had the similar situation with people waiting to board the buses that were on their way to the different locations. The next bus stop was the one that was tricky as i also had to cross the road, but with the help of the traffic lights i managed to get to the bus stop only soaked to the bone. I entered the Dala dala (public transport bus), which was the point when i realised that i was all wet dripping to the extent i could not even sit down.

 The day continued but with amazement i realised how the situation was when the traffic came to a stand still as a result of the flooded roads. The speed of the moving traffic was reduced to 5km/h and in some instances a total halt. This was sad to note as most of the pedestrians where seen moving in the muddy water which could be seen to be carrying a lot of debris. Coming back to IWRM i realised the ability to think holistically that is when i realised that a number of sectors were as a result of the situation put to their knees as some of the shops actually ended up closing as the water overwhelmed their efforts to try and either mop it or through it out of the premises.


 Health wise i realised that my high school biology talked of water borne diseases being more pronounced when such situations take place. so coming back to the questions, When the rains hit hard who is the one that suffers i guess my answer came by just looking at the people that were walking in the water exposed to a number of diseases. But further to this what is a person to do when there is no place to hide or in another instance does not have an awareness of the impact that the situation at had has on their health.

Further to this it got me thinking that is it correct to continue blaming the local council on the condition of the drainage or the Meteorological office for not giving info on the rains in advance because from my experience even when all is said and done we still have accidents and deaths occurring. This leaves me questioning whether we are doing our part in educating the communities on their roles. Is the awareness enough to protect both property and life. Even in the Bajaj home one person was adamant not to leave their house which is 200m from the ocean all because they did not hear the message them-self. I believe the human being is dynamic and that dynamism is the cause for most of the problems and needs to be looked into in order to protect the environment, human race and our property.

In conclusion this was just a description of the day of a pedestrian when an alert for a Tsunami had been announced. Views are based on personal experience and can be open to critic, which is kindly and openly welcome. For we endeavor to protect and save the world we live in. For any information contact me on kudzai@urbansolutions.olaari.com and will be willing to assist in any way possible.

Causes of discolored water or stains

There is a time when the color of water coming from the faucet is exactly note that appealing and sometimes this is a cause for concern yet in some instance there is just need to know what is happening and how it can be controlled or stopped. It was important to have a look at this and make readers aware of the problems that they may have and how they can be able to fix them.

1.      Cloudy or milky white

This is one common problem which I actually realized personally was always a concern with colleagues when we were at school attributing the problem to too much chlorine, which in actual fact is not correct. Cloudy or milky water is typically caused by bubbles in the water. This condition is not a public health concern. Cloudy water occurs more often in the winter months when drinking water is cold. This is because colder water holds more air. When the water warms up in the house the air escapes hence making the cloudiness temporary and clears quickly after water is drawn from the tap. Recommendations: Let water stand until it clears and if it clears from the bottom the condition is caused by air. Also go to the farthest or highest tap from the point where the water enters and let the cold water run for a few minutes to help the air bubbles escape.

2.      Yellow, red or brown water on the FIRST DRAW

Causes of this problem can be the internal plumbing if the water appears discolored for a few minutes. When the zinc coating in the pipes wears thin, water becomes discolored as it comes in contact with bear iron. The longer the water sits in the pipe the greater the discoloration, which is why it’s noticed in the morning or when returning from work or school. After running the tap for a few minutes the clean water will replace the discolored water. Since iron is an essential nutrient, this condition poses no health hazard although prevention of any concerns will need to be done. Recommendations: Flash the tap until the water becomes clear saving the water for plants.

3.      Yellow, red or brown water CONSTANTLY

Sometimes the problem becomes serious and requires greater attention. Sediments in water mains sometimes get stirred up when fire hydrants are used and when the flow of water in mains is changed. These sediments might cause your water to turn brown, yellow or red. Recommendations: Flush the tap until the water becomes clear, saving the water for plants. Please check the water to make sure that it is clear prior to doing laundry, using your dishwasher or making ice cubes.

In conclusion there is need to always check the system in the house to be able to maintain the pipe work before it begins to cause problems that will result in health concerns. For any assistance with any related problems contact anyone on kudzai@urbansolutions.olaari.com. Urban Solutions helping you “Live and Work Better”