How Urbanization Has Taken Place in Lima - Dissertation Example

How Urbanization Has Taken Place in Lima (Peru) Abstract Worldwide, urbanization has been on the increase with people moving from the rural lifestyle and joining in the urban lifestyle as human population shift from their farms heading for cities. In year 2000, prospects recorded that over 47 percent of the global population resided in cities and researchers projected that this number would shoot up to 60 percent by the end of 2025. Projections show that when people start moving into towns they create possible issues with the environment (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:12). They also bring about new or increase the incidences of social challenges. Environmental issues that come along with urbanization include strains on energy resources, health care systems, educational systems, sanitation, physical security, and transportation. Currently, some cities are becoming centers for massive sprawl, widespread poverty, and serious environmental issues (Home, 2004:40). Introduction Within the country of Peru, one of the parts in which urbanization has led to such issues is Lima. With reference to the CIA Fact Book, close to 71 percent of population in Peru resides in urban areas and the annual increase of that percentage is 1.3 (LiWa, 2011:10). The major cause of urbanization in Peru is overgrazing and logging as well as poor forest management practices in rural areas. Due to this heightened urbanization of Lima, the country of Peru has resolved to alternative water harnessing areas which are coastal waters obtained from municipalities and polluted rivers (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:20). Those issues related to urbanization, if not looked at, will continue affecting people’s lives in Lima and the whole of Peru in addition to the Border States. This paper will seek to examine how urbanization has taken place in Lima (Peru) and its city-region using the development of water or sanitation infrastructure and access to water, as the lens. Unequal water distribution (center – peripheral) Social aspects and human activities are the number one contributors of urbanization in Peru. Lima is among the most affected cities worldwide as it has a huge population and more of them are jetting in from their rural areas mainly because there is no enough water in those areas (Great Britain, 2009:61). Sources maintain that, given the current state of water in Lima, the situation is more likely to aggravate and there will be noticeable problems related to water shortage. The Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research put across that, social aspects coupled with climatic changes affect the Andean countries mostly (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:53). The report also indicated that Peru is the third most sensitive nation when the impacts of climate change on water availability and precipitation is the issue. This shows that, things that people engage in such as cutting down of trees, poor farming practices, and failure to plant other trees contribute to the movement of people from remote areas to city centers. Charcoal burning, clearing bushes to make way for construction or planting, and other deforestation activities contribute to poor rainfall reception. Lack of adequate rainfall in rural areas leads to famine. This in turn leads to urbanization as people move to towns to look for jobs. Peru always becomes a victim of such ordeals whenever there is a climatic change. Weather forecasters and other scientists expect water shortage issues to fall even deeper in few years to come mainly because of mayor frequency and intensity of the Southern Oscillation or El Niño phenomenon (Home, 2004:55). Regarding this case, it is believable that urbanization issues will continue to intensify in Lima and the adjacent cities such as Callao since they have better water resources. They also have better technologies that can convert wastewaters into useful water for irrigation and other industrial purposes (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:87). Research observations reveal that, water shortage does not only hit the leveled areas of Peru, but also in the mountainous areas. This trend extends to include the large conurbations mostly characterized by large demands for water resources. Study on the Metropolitan section of Lima in Peru highlights that the city is highly dependent on water (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:64). This is so because, as of today, Lima has roughly 8.5 million people. Uncertainty fills this city since it has a huge number of Asientamientous Humanos (large figure of informal settlings particularly in the Peri-urban areas). Collective enterprise of neighborhoods Based on the latest population tally highlights, Lima has truly high population growth that exceeds the 8 million mark. As of now, environmental analysts refer to it as a megacity. Reliable resources point out that, most people started moving from their rural areas heading to the cities since there were inadequate reservoirs in the bucolic areas (Martine, 2008:47). Apart from that, agriculturalists and pastoralists as well as other inhabitants who depended highly on water to irrigate their farms and feed their animals left the countryside towards Lima since water availability deteriorated forcing them to leave their places for urban centers (Home, 2004:48). According to fact-findings, people in Peru engaged much in deforestation activities, which included cutting down trees for various uses without replacing them with others particularly in the water catchment areas in Peru. As time went by, human activities exceeded and forest level and water availability declined. As a result, people started migrating to Lima and other urban centers (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:42). Therefore, it is understandable that urbanization in Lima was due to water unavailability in rural areas. When people engaged in deforestation acts without thinking of the future consequences, environmental conditions changed. The country of Peru became drier everyday due to climatic changes. Human activities are a major contributor of this situation (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:55). However, with reference to The Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in 2007, perhaps the most dreadful cause of this situation is the hydrological cycle variation. Peru, like many other countries, is facing water shortage due to the hydrological cycle variation, which is a climate change effect. These variations consist of the rising sea levels, melting of the glaciers, and significant changes in precipitation patterns and temperature worldwide (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:26). Today, the world is facing a hard time trying to search where to get adequate water for its inhabitants since the water levels in its catchment areas is deteriorating following the increased changes in climate (Great Britain, 2009:44). Intra-city historical development Prospects show that, as the population continues to increase, so are the problems that come along with water shortages (Home, 2004:61). The latest edition released by the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR4) reports that population in Lima continues to increase since the rate of population growth in that the city is at 2 percent every year. This is so because; people continue to struggle to have the same essential commodity, which is not in plenty. As a result, there will be cases of strained sources coupled with fight for ways to harness water hence causing serious issues on the lives of the many living in those areas. The influx of poor people from the disadvantaged parts of the country is indeed putting much pressure in those areas of Lima, where the supply of electricity, sanitation services, and water is inadequate (Martine, 2008:63). Selectively, scarcity of water, sanitation, and electricity among other essential services is the major cause of the intra-city historical development of inequalities which contrasting the served areas with the situation of the now called Pueblos Jóvenes and others (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:39). Lima is also a victim of irregular water supply because of issues related to arid climate. In fact, Lima receives only 9mm mean precipitation every year. Analysts say that this level of rainfall is very low and cannot sustain such a huge population (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:94). As such, this city has to live with that condition since it is natural. Nevertheless, due to advancements in technology, the country is gearing in some measures aimed at changing this situation by coming up with strategies suitable for providing considerable amounts of water to its residents. Urbanization has acted as the major reason leading to the subsequent inadequacy of water supply in Lima (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:45). The flow of characteristics is also irregular in Lima. The flow of water and fall of rain in the Andean mountains, which are the main foundation of water supply for the city of Lima, receive variable rains every year (Martine, 2008:75). The Integrated Social and Development Program for the Municipality of Lima worries that water shortage will still be a problem even in many years to come. Reasonably, it indicates that the backdrop of this worry is the overarching increase in population coupled with inequalities among the many societies in Lima. The population of this city has every social level (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:70). In year 2007, research results shown that 18 percent of Lima’s population was in dire need of help as it lived in severe poverty. Following the report released by the Integrated Social and Development Program for the Municipality of Lima, it is agreeable that the intra-city historical development of inequalities is severe in this city. The history of development of inequalities in intra-city particularly in Lima and Callao is long and entrenches from way back in the 1950s (Home, 2004:77). Water is indeed an unequally distributable commodity in Lima and in many other parts of the country. With regard to such aspects, there is in-depth polarization of services between the disadvantaged districts and the rich societies of Lima. Conflicts are always erupting following polarization between and among the poor, middle class, and rich districts within this city (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:78). In most cases, they are all about availability of basic resources, which include water and presence of heightened social mobilization potential especially at times when the inhabitants regard some policies as unfair or burdening the poor even much (Great Britain, 2009:81). In areas where the rich reside, water, electricity, and sanitation services are available to a particular degree. Rich people are bale to use their financial influence to pull such services in their favor leaving the poor complaining (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:105). The poor and middle class tends to blame the rich for the absence and inequalities faced by them. Diversity in Lima also relates to other activities and potentials. For example, in some areas, people have the technology that they use to treat wastewater and use it for irrigation and industrial purposes. Thus, the history of diversity with orientation to intra city development is complex and polarized. Some people have means, power, and the knowhow to change used water into useful water yet others do not have even some for normal usage (Home, 2004:82). To some extent, their cry based on diversity and polarization of resources is justifiable. Nonetheless, for the city of Lima to realize optimum solutions for this state, people have to come up with locally conducive alternatives. ideally, it is true to note that, if the concerned agencies ranging from the government to non-governmental organizations to private groups initiate and develop substantial ways of reviving water catchment areas or recycling used water, chances of ensuring water availability and supply to Lima inhabitants will be high (Martine, 2008:81). Further, employing technologies that convert wastewater into usable water will not only revive water supply in many areas of Lima and Peru as whole, but will also bring about favorable overall water management concepts within and among every inhabitant of Peru. Decisively, Lima has a bad stand in terms of sanitation and water supply (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:51). These two elements are very crucial in people’s lives but in the case of Lima, what characterizes these services is devastating. As of now, the network of water supply in Lima covers only 80.6 percent of the population living in Lima. Statistics shows that this percentage leaves 19.4 percent of the remaining population specifically those residing in the hilly parts of Peru without access to network of clean and/or safe water for drinking (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:88). Clearly, this percentage is huge for a megacity like Lima. Surprisingly, 77 percent represents the number of people connected to the sewer network. Of all the wastewaters in Lima, just 17 percent of it receives some kind of wastewater treatment. This leaves a large amount water go to waste yet there is potential to recycle it make it useful once more (Home, 2004:90). Definitely, there is a great level of biasness as it is believable that if the city has some levels of technology that can assist in increasing water quantity for industrial and agricultural use and it does not make use of it, laxity and biasness could be the reason for this situation (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:114). Recordings show that people discharge the remaining amount of wastewaters into the Pacific Ocean and use only 5 percent of the treated water for irrigation. Discussion for privatization of water utility Infrastructural development is taking a rather stronger course given that different initiatives by the government in support of private groups are chipping to offer immense power in view of achieving reasonable water reservation and management (Martine, 2008:98). Moreover, the people of Lima have strong interactions with water and the energy system. The inherent interaction between water and energy lies not only in the continuous need for pumping water and in the treatment of wastewater, but also in the joint usage of reservoirs for energy production and water supply (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:96). In this city, there is advent need for water to facilitate treatment of wastewaters with vital implications within operational costs. Those reservoirs believed to have water for consumption faced climatic changes that affected their ability to store and on the other side, human patterns conflicted constantly due to usage. As of late, the people of Peru have been looking for ways to end this impeding water problem. Despite the growing controversy over whether these transformations will ever contribute to deepen urban fragmentation or improve the lives of the poor, changes are seeing this being a crucial move (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:120). With regard to the city of Lima, increased population aggravated water problems rapidly. Generally, the overall situation regarding to the scarce homes and partial integration of the incoming migrants into the economy and society of this city intensified the state of water distribution among the inhabitants (Home, 2004:99). Documented evidence asserts that in 1991, a brewing disaster triggered the political justification for the Fujimori administration to privatize some of the country’s public utilities. This occurred due to inadequate public health infrastructure and contaminated water supply. Whereas the surrounding countries of Peru faced social movements, which launched successful resistance strategies and won important victories against neoliberal globalization, Peru embarked on its privatization strategy (Great Britain, 2009:92). City planning and water distribution in Lima The Spaniards established the city of Lima in 1535, years before the Indies’ Laws. However, their planning was almost the same as that of the Indies given that they used a grid pattern, built important and residential houses around the plaza, and streets were radiating from that central plaza. They decided to locate the city close to the Rimac River, which they used for irrigation and waste removal (LiWa, 2011:15). The city of Lima always faced the wrath of tremors or earthquakes and as such, people could not build more than two stories. By the end of 1600s, there were diagonal roads, which made it easier to navigate through and around the city and presence of small plazas made the city look more beautiful. This caused many powerful and wealthy people to leave their places of residence in the Andean regions and other regions to come and settle in Lima and within a short while, the city has a total population of about 30,000 (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:66). Reliable data sources document that, the issue of water availability, supply, and storage started back, long before the current inhabitants of Lima can narrate or imagine. After the city became a cosmopolitan center, people started considering it as the capital city of the Spanish-American high and strong culture (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:102). Nevertheless, cases of many inhabitants living in advent poverty and with frequent threats of epidemics and unsanitary became rampant. Even as of today, people still hold these fears of epidemic and unsanitary conditions with the enormous deal of waste in air pollution and water supplies. Indicatively, water availability and distribution among the inhabitants of Lima did not start just the other day but during the time of its planning and construction (Home, 2004:101). As seen, urbanization in this case was due to the city’s beauty, proximity, and planning although people preferred settling in the coastal regions (Great Britain, 2009:107). Transportation in Lima There is a time when the rate of urbanization skyrocketed. Year 1746 saw Lima witness a series of earthquakes, which led to major damage causing the destruction of many buildings. In late 19th century, after the earthquakes destroyed most of the city’s walls, people made many changes regarding the infrastructure of Lima. Consequently, they built a beltway along the destroyed walls, more bridges over the Rimac River, and railroads as well as avenues to the coastal region of the city (Choffnes and Mack, 2009:128). These changes and advanced constructions led to improved means of transportation in Lima and as such, many upper-class suburbs arose along the costal region of Lima. In the middle of the city, cars, bicycles, and trolleys made the largest composition of transport means. Currently, things are no longer the way they used to be as transportation is contributing to one of the serious challenges facing Lima; air pollution (Martine, 2008:108). Air pollution causes deficiencies in water availability due to climatic changes and temperature increase. On the other side, air pollution causes health problems and in Lima, people are today breathing in large amounts of various contaminants and airborne particulates. Studies record that, inhalation of air pollution causes around 6,000 deaths every year in Lima (Great Britain, 2009:116). Evidence brought into light by the Environmental Council of Lima reveal that the inhabitants of Lima make an estimated 2 million private and 8.5 million public transport trips everyday (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:110). Sensibly, the level of air pollution and is increasing day after another due to the heightened level of public and private transport trips in one day in Lima. Accordingly, water issues will continue to rock this city for along time because as long as human activities and reliance of transport means with high possibility to increase climatic changes and temperate conditions continue to increase, solution to this problem will remain to be an unsolved mystery. Industrialization and urbanization Social aspects are part of the many things that made people move to Lima to work in the industrial and factory sectors. As 20th century turned in, population growth, economic injustice, and agricultural stagnation continued to hit the city very hard. These problems made life unbearable in the rural areas of Peru and many residents ended up seeking refuge in Lima and look for employment opportunities in industries (Home, 2004:112). This kind of urbanization caused the notable problems and environmental deterioration, which led to dangerous shortage of water and clean air for breathing in the city. Since Lima’s location is on a desert, any source of water, which includes the Lurin, Chillon, and Rimac rivers, is very vital for its inhabitants’ survival (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2008:72). However, due to human activities are severely polluting these rivers through agricultural and mining activities and they are receiving pollution in the form of industrial and residential waste from the city (Great Britain, 2009:122). Conclusion In conclusion, the city of Lima is a desert and water, sanitation, and electricity are a major problem. Urbanization led to the building of shantytowns, water pollution, air pollution, and sewage dilemma (Martine, 2008:125). This city needs patent solutions or alternatives that will bring seeable change. Therefore, it is recommendable for people to build water reservoirs, engage in wastewater treatment, enhance technological base for recycling used water, and disengage from urbanization (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Beighley, and Killgore, 2011:124). People should also consider other economic activities such as agriculture, pond fishing, and other programs. They should also resolve to use different sources of energy instead of depending highly on electricity. This paper has examined how urbanization has taken place in Lima (Peru) and its city-region using the development of water or sanitation infrastructure and access to water, as the lens. Bibliography Choffnes, E. R. and Mack, A. 2009. Global issues in water, sanitation, and health: workshop summary. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Great Britain, 2009. Urbanisation and poverty: seventh report of session 2008-09. Vol. II, Oral and written evidence. London: Stationery Office. Home, R. 2004. 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