Water is a basic need, and defecation , a physiological imperative. To deny these is to deny life itself.” — Professor Albert Wright, Ghanaian civil engineer and public health advocate, 1992 during an unforgettable UNEP-World Bank Project Team Meeting.
Wright’s sobering warning three decades later hits home, especially in Ghana. Where illegal mining activity has turned rivers into sludge laced with mercury, cyanide, and sediment, amongst others. Due to rapid urbanization, climate stress, and the pollution crisis, getting access to clean water is now a daily battle. But African creators are finding solutions with AI and IoT to tackle the issues.
Ghana’s Two Problems: Galamsey and Upskilling for Tech Solutions
In Ghana, galamsey operations have polluted 60% of river basins that millions of people depend on for water. Here, AI is proving vital. Digital Earth Africa is employing technologies that use satellites to detect illegal mining. Similarly, start-ups like Safe Water Network Ghana are using AI-filtration technology for mining-impacted communities. These initiatives demonstrate the importance of Wright’s unity of technology and life.
Regional and Global Pioneers
- SewerAI uses computer vision to analyze sewer inspection videos. In other words, AI is used descriptively by the company to improve efficiency and cut down on errors for pipeline maintenance.
- Vodena automates data gathering through smart sensors and uses machine learning to predict water levels. Communities at risk may be warned about floods or droughts on time.
- AquaTech Kenya utilizes machine learning, collaborates with farmers to prevent drought from affecting irrigation and food security from drought.
AI’s Transformative Role
- AI technology can quickly detect and predict pollution from Galamsey and many other polluting activities in advance.
- SewerAI is developing applications that can save 40% on inspection costs.
- Vodena is developing early warning tech that helps flood-prone areas by sending out flood alerts that save lives.
- Community Strength: New businesses are developing AI equipment that filters at an affordable price.
Pathways to Scale
Leverage cloud-based tools such as AWS Forecast to give affordable demand insights.
We could deploy scalable pilot solutions in high-risk locations such as the troubled communities in Ghana’s Pra River basin, where mining pollution is chronic.
How about utilizing mining, weather, and health data from governments to increase the accuracy of AI? All this is now possible!
Policy Imperatives.
To honor Wright’s vision, African governments and the private sector must:
- Fund AI grants for water-tech SMEs, including local distributors and maintainers of highly effective and affordable water filters for households. And did I nearly forget low-cost sanitation solutions and local smart drainage system contractors? My apologies.
- Enforce stricter bans on galamsey while supporting technology for remediation
- Build open-data ecosystems to empower predictive models
The Final Drop
AI is transforming Africa’s water and sanitation story from poisoned rivers in Ghana to sewer collapse in Nairobi. By combining Professor Wright’s advocacy with cutting-edge technologies such as SewerAI’s precision and Vodena’s foresight- and an entire spectrum of creative possibilities in between- the continent will gradually regain its right to clean water, one algorithm at a time.
