The improper handling of domestic, industrial and medical waste in the Angolan part of the basin, particularly in large cities, can lead to severe pollution of surface water and groundwater.
The degree of pollution depends on the type of storage as well as the amount and chemical nature of the waste. Due to inadequately sealed waste dumps and landfills, as well as carelessly discarded waste, drainage and surface runoff leads to a contamination of surface and groundwater resources. The chemical properties of the waste provide information about the grade of decomposition and the potential of immobilisation in the environment.
Uncontrolled disposal and dumping of waste occurs mainly in public places such as markets or other open areas. However, rivers, riverbanks and wetlands are also often misused as waste dumps when near a settled area. There is a particular risk of environmental pollution during the rainy season.
The following aspects exacerbate the accumulation of waste in urban centres and their peripheries:
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Uncontrolled population growth in urban centres;
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Change of lifestyle of people;
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Lack of basic education in the areas of hygiene, ecology and politics;
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Insufficient capacity in garbage disposal, and administration; and
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Difficult access to the outskirts of cities.
