A Survey of Household Practices, Experiences and Expectations on Wastewater Management in Conakry, Guinea

Abstract

People in developing countries, including in Guinea, face a lot of problems in terms of sewage management. This is so because sanitation provision is grossly deficient. Most people do not have access to hygienic toilets and large amounts of faecal waste are discharged to the environment without adequate treatment. This has major impacts on infectious disease burden and quality of life. In view of this a study was carried out with an aim of assessing knowledge, practices, perceptions and experiences of households on sanitation and sewage management in Conakry, Guinea. The household survey results show that the sewage system remains underdeveloped, and there is no clear vision to improve the system. Greywater generated in the household is not re-used; it is generally released outside the household, on the ground or in the stormwater drainage system directly. Treated wastewater from the treatment plants is drained into surface water bodies such as rivers and the ocean. It is further shown that the people of Conakry take waste management as the most important element to their health and quality of life; and households are not satisfied with the current services they get from the authorities. The residential sector is affected mainly with poor waste management and sewage disposal and seawater quality. It is, however, pleasing to note that the residents are willing to contribute financially to projects that would reduce the risk of contamination of the sea water. It is therefore recommended that Guinea should adopt the concept of sustainable wastewater management, emphasize on institutional effectiveness, create an enabling environment, and promote awareness campaigns for good wastewater management practices. Key words : Wastewater, Management, Conakry, Household, Sanitation