Impact of Solid Domestic Waste Management on Drainage Systems in Developing Urban Areas

Urbanization and waste production are closely related subjects. Solid waste management remains a serious challenge for developing countries. The reason for this situation includes misunderstanding, weak rules and regulations, unreliable methods, inappropriate storage. . . Most of the wastes produced end up in the drainage systems and considerably impact its functionality, giving rise to floods. This research assesses the impact of uncollected solid waste on the drainage system of an urbanized drainage basin. The pilot site chosen for this work was a drainage basin called Abiergu. With its urban and cultural diversity, Abiergu is a microcosm of most drainage basins in its mother town Yaound. The quantity of wastes produced and collected was determined by collecting, sorting and weighing solid domestic wastes from 307 Households living in the area. The fraction of uncollected solid wastes circulating in the drainage system was assessed as well as the amount of soil sediments conveyed by storm water. Soil traps designed and installed in drains helped to capture these solid materials in the drainage systems. It was found that about 45 % of wastes generated in the area were not collected. These wastes together with sediments accounted for an increase of 10 % of the volume of runoffs in the drainage system.