Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene November - December 2016 vol.11 No.6 | Page 13

NEWS in brief
China Shifting Balance of Power in Nile River Basin
By ECSP Staff
The growing intensification of economic, political and

Photo Credit: The Tekeze Dam, Ethiopia, courtesy of International
Rivers.

Global Highlights

to floating hotels and thus generate lots of waste: both
solid waste and waste water but also air pollutants (black
fumes) and noise pollution. Waste water includes black
water (toilet waste), grey water (wastewater from sinks,
baths, showers and laundry) and bilge water (oily water
that accumulates in the lowest part of a ship). Hereafter,
we identify and recommend concrete solutions to collect
and treat waste water from such cruise boats and remove
floating waste from the bay’s water. Indeed, it is necessary
to implement active and concrete measures in order to
address the decreasing environmental quality of the Ha
Long Bay and restore the unique natural beauty of this
important tourist location and World Heritage Site.
CONCLUSIONS In order to tackle the pollution, a waste
management system should be established, investment in
mobile cleaning boats should be called for and appropriate
ports, equipment and a training program for cruise
company staff and crew should be implemented, as well as
a regular briefing of cruise passengers about the impacts
of pollution on the bay.

social ties between China and Africa in the last 15 years
is often told as a story of copper, petrodollars, emerging
Chinatowns, and bilateral visits by heads of state.
But perhaps the most significant way in which Chinese
actors are contributing to an evolving African politicaleconomic landscape is very seldom discussed: an
unprecedented wave of hydro-infrastructure construction
is taking place.
Beijing is a key partner for the construction of big dams,
the expansion of irrigation systems, and the building of
transportation canals. This is recalibrating the domestic
political economies of major African states and altering
how they relate to each other.

Ha Long Bay

Toppling Egypt’s Hydro-Hegemony
Nowhere has China’s return to Africa been more
consequential from a geopolitical water-angle than in the
Nile Basin, which covers 11 African states. For decades, the
geopolitics of the Nile have been violent yet predictable.
Despite being downstream, Egypt has for generations been
the “hydro-hegemon”: the country with the best economy;
the largest population; the strongest military forces; the
most international prestige; and the closest partnerships
with global superpowers.
The original version of this article, by Harry Verhoeven, appeared
on ChinaDialogue.
Ha Long Bay boat waste collection and treatment
There are approximately 500 boats cruising through the
bay waters, of which about 300 are dayboat and 200 are
overnight-boats. In this report, bay waters refers to the
three bays: Ha Long, Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha.
Many of the boats that operate in the bay can be compared

At the same time, regulations relative to cruise companies
and port waste management must be issued and strict
enforcement of all directives must be carried out on a
regular basis. Corrective actions should be taken to address
non-compliance cases. Most importantly, a cleaning
company should be designated and given full authority to
carry out the cleaning work with appropriate resources
and should be accountable for their performance and
achievement of targets.
Study Finds That 56,000 Californians Are Drinking
Arsenic-Tainted Water
By Peak Johnson
Drought is not the only water concern for Californians
these days. A recent study found that nearly 56,000
Californians are exposed to drinking water that has
surpassed the federal safety standards for arsenic.

Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • November - December 2016

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