By Fatmata Binta Bah
Sierra Leone, often characterized by lush tropical rainforests, is facing an environmental catastrophe as rapid deforestation threatens the very lifeblood of its people: its water supply. The impact is most immediate and severe in the capital, Freetown, a coastal city nestled among steep, once heavily-forested hills, the wholesale destruction of the forest cover driven by urbanization, illegal logging for charcoal, and unregulated construction has fundamentally broken the natural water cycle, leading to a perilous combination of water scarcity during the
The western area peninsula forest reserve serves as the critical water catchment area for Freetown, this hilly region, which was once dense forest, is home to the Guma Dam, the reservoir that historically supplied over 90% of the capital’s water, the health of this dam and the streams that feed it is directly tied to the health of the surrounding forest.
Forests act as natural sponges in the hydrological cycle. Their extensive root systems allow torrential rainfall to be absorbed slowly into the soil, where it is filtered and gradually released into streams and groundwater, ensuring a steady, clean supply throughout the year, even during the intense dry season. When these trees are felled, this vital function is lost, setting off a cascade of devastating consequences for water availability and quality.
Deforestation creates a dual threat to water resources it reduces supply and destroys water quality, the removal of forest canopy exposes the ground and surface water sources to direct sunlight and high temperatures, leading to rapid evaporation, according to experts at the Guma Valley water company (GVWC), the absence of forest cover means that water dries up much faster, causing the streams and rivers that feed the Guma Dam to run low or dry up entirely during the long, hot dry season.
Furthermore, trees play a critical role in transpiration, a process that releases moisture back into the atmosphere, influencing local rainfall patterns. The loss of vast tracts of forest disrupts this cycle, potentially leading to a decrease in localized precipitation, further compounding the problem of water scarcity. For residents, this translates to agonizing water rationing, long queues at community standpipes, and the risk of total reservoir depletion.
The flip side of scarcity is the devastating impact during the rainy season. Without tree roots to anchor the soil, the ground loses its stability and its capacity to absorb water. When the torrential rains arrive, the water runs unhindered down the steep slopes, leading to:
The massive 2017 Freetown mudslide, which killed over 1,000 people, was a tragic illustration of how deforestation exacerbates natural hazards. Rapid runoff transforms minor streams into destructive torrents, overwhelming drainage systems and causing deadly floods.
The unchecked runoff carries huge volumes of soil, gravel, and loose boulders downhill. This sediment is deposited into the rivers, streams, and, critically, the Guma Dam reservoir. This process, known as siltation, reduces the dam’s storage capacity, lowers the efficiency of water treatment plants, and necessitates costly and difficult dredging operations.
Deforested areas are more susceptible to erosion, which washes human and animal waste, trash, and contaminants from illegal settlements and unsanitary conditions directly into surface water sources. This widespread bacterial contamination (including E. coli and Faecal coliforms) renders much of the available water unsafe for drinking, spiking the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid, particularly in densely populated and poor urban areas.
The root cause of this deforestation is the rapid, unplanned urbanization of Freetown, fueled by rural migration, the ever-increasing demand for housing and cooking fuel has led to the rampant destruction of the forest in the western area peninsula, often through illegal construction and the harvesting of wood for charcoal.
Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged strategy Initiatives like #FreetownTheTreeTown aim to plant and digitally track millions of trees to restore the forest cover, enhance water retention, and mitigate landslide risk, stricter enforcement of laws against building in sensitive catchment areas and improved urban waste management are crucial to prevent further encroachment and pollution.
Promoting affordable alternatives to charcoal, such as clean cooking solutions, reduces the economic incentive for illegal logging. The fate of Freetown’s water supply is intrinsically linked to the fate of its forests. Until the relationship between the people and their natural environment is restored, the capital will remain perpetually vulnerable to the twin scourges of thirst and flooding.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 10th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
