Lome faces major challenges during times of flooding by heavy rainfalls causing problems of stagnant storm water, weak drainage infrastructure because of the absence of an appropriate wastewater treatment facility.Citizens of Lomé are vulnerable to waterborne or mosquito-borne diseases, higher rates of drowning and exposure to household and industrial waste which exacerbate poverty. The areas most affected by flooding are those where the lowest-income groups live (European Commission, 2016).

The European Commission and the Government of Togo are working together to strengthen the management of urban storm water and wastewater systems by developing a plan for a period of 13 years. The first phase started in 2007 and ended in 2014 to improve the population’s access to drinking water, domestic and community sanitation and capacity building of government agencies in charge of water and sanitation. The second Phase lasted from 2013 until 2020 and aimed to improve the lives of 300,000 inhabitants which are affected by flooding living in districts to the north of the harbour area.

The European Commission continues to invest in secondary cities in Togo and will work in five different regional areas to develop rainwater drainage plans to help better plan the urban areas.

Photo by Shrinidhi Takle on Flickr