The country

Côte d’Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast in German-speaking countries, is one of the economic powerhouses of West Africa with an area of 322,463 km², a population of around 29.3 million and a coastline of 566 km. Water consumption in Côte d’Ivoire is on the rise, as the three main consumers – industry, households and agriculture – are increasingly demanding water. The latter has played a key role in the country’s economy since independence in 1960. Agricultural commodities such as cocoa beans, coffee, cashews and rubber are cultivated in the country. In this context, Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial policy has been geared towards the exploitation of raw materials, which are the key to a developed country and the driving force behind growth. The industrial sector comprises a large number of companies operating in various industries, including agriculture, textiles, chemicals, packaging, wood processing, mining and energy. Over 70% of industries and 50% of jobs in the modern sector are located in the economic metropolis of Abidjan alone. Côte d’Ivoire is also one of the West African countries whose urbanization rate has risen rapidly since independence. In 2035, the urbanization rate in the country should be 60%. However, the high level of industrialization and rapid urbanization are now leading to environmental problems. There are still too few modern wastewater systems in the West African country, meaning that most of the wastewater produced is discharged into natural waters without prior treatment.

Côte d’Ivoire has set itself the goal of achieving SDG 6 by 2030, i.e. ensuring access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities for all people under fair conditions. The Ivorian government is already making many efforts to achieve this. However, sustainable wastewater treatment remains a major challenge in the country. Inadequate wastewater treatment has a negative impact on the environment and public health. Water bodies are polluted by untreated wastewater, which leads to a deterioration in water quality and damage to ecosystems. The country’s government is aware of this and is focusing on the issue of wastewater disposal. Although the will of the local authorities and companies is there, there is still a lack of concrete, sustainable and efficient solutions that can help solve the environmental problems associated with inadequate wastewater management.