E. Servat et M. Sakho, INSTABILITY OF WATER-RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT OF A PLANNED WATER-SYSTEM IN NON-SAHELIAN WEST-AFRICA, Hydrological sciences journal, 40(2), 1995, pp. 217-230
Having verified the decrease in surface water resources observed over
the last twenty years in West Africa, changes planned for the Sassandr
a basin, Cote d'Ivoire, are described. The methods used to generate tw
o hundred year data series, the basis of previous studies, are present
ed. The generated time series allow the development of long term worki
ng patterns for cases similar to the climatic conditions pertaining be
fore and since the drought of the late 1960s. The results demonstrate
a clear drop in the performance of the water system, related to climat
ic conditions experienced since the start of the drought. The conclusi
ons drawn from the comparisons and analyses indicate that, if the pres
ent conditions were to persist in West Africa, surface water resources
would no longer meet needs which were identified and planned for on t
he basis of data records presenting characteristics different from tho
se currently observed. The frequency of failures would then become muc
h greater, leading to a serious decline in the output of existing faci
lities. Modifications made to the operation of the Buyo reservoir are
also analysed.