Effects of Climate Change-Induced Flooding on Onsite Sanitation Services: A Case Study of Kanyama, Compound in Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

The study underscores the absence of a comprehensive assessment of flooding effects on onsite sanitation systems in Kanyama, exacerbating existing issues like inadequate facilities, poor maintenance, and improper waste management. Conducting both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research engaged 210 respondents from six wards in Kanyama, using systematic random sampling for households and purposive sampling for key informants. Employing predictive models (Root Mean Square Error and R-squared values) in SPSS Version 22, the findings revealed negative effects on onsite sanitation systems, including contamination of water, infrastructure damage, and overflowing of pit latrines/septic tanks. Key statistics include 68% of respondents witnessing temperature changes, 63% understanding climate change, and 73% acknowledging changes in rainfall patterns. For flooding, 72% observed increased floods, with a statistical analysis yielding R-squared values of 0.431, 0.427, and 0.373 for water contamination, infrastructure damage, and overflowing of pit latrines/septic tanks, respectively. These values represent the percentage of variation explained by flood-related variables. Chi-squared statistics values of 234.16, 214.564, and 152.132 highlight a significant effect of flood-related variables on observed outcomes. Qualitative data identified themes such as awareness of climate change effects, diverse beliefs, varying community awareness, and the need for tailored education. The study proposed a Sustainability model, emphasizing drainage systems, awareness campaigns, infrastructure development, waste management, and partnerships to enhance community resilience against climate change-induced flooding