Baie de Hann: restoring one of West Africa's most polluted bays
For decades, Baie de Hann on the eastern edge of Dakar was known as one of West Africa's most polluted coastal areas. Rapid urbanisation, industrial growth and an inadequate sanitation infrastructure turned what was once a vibrant bay into a polluted environmental hotspot, with untreated wastewater and industrial effluent flowing directly into the sea.
Today, that picture is beginning to change.
One of the largest environmental restoration projects in West Africa is transforming the bay through improved wastewater collection and treatment, environmental restoration and better sanitation management. Once completed, the project will improve the living conditions for more than half a million people while helping to restore one of Senegal's most important coastal ecosystems.
From pollution hotspot to environmental restoration
Located alongside one of Dakar's main industrial zones, Baie de Hann has long suffered from decades of untreated domestic and industrial discharge. This, on top of a rapid population growth and an insufficient sewerage infrastructure, has led to the pollution affecting public health, marine ecosystems and local livelihoods. Fishing communities saw fish stocks decline dramatically, while residents experienced increasing health problems linked to poor water quality and inadequate sanitation. The environmental degradation also impacted tourism and economic development along the coastline. The restoration programme aims to reverse these trends through a comprehensive approach that addresses pollution at its source rather than only treating its effects.
One of West Africa's largest restoration programmes
The Baie de Hann project combines major infrastructure investments with institutional reforms to improve water quality and safeguard the bay for future generations.
Its main objectives include:
- constructing a modern wastewater treatment plant;
- building a 15-kilometre interceptor sewer to collect and transport wastewater away from the bay;
- reducing industrial pollution through mandatory pre-treatment of industrial effluent; and,
- improving water quality, public health, and the local economy.
Building the infrastructure for cleaner water
Construction is well underway. The wastewater treatment plant is taking shape, while work on the interceptor sewer network continues across Dakar. The Senegalese authorities see that the project is already delivering visible environmental improvements and has become one of the country's flagship sanitation programmes.
Once operational, the new system will collect the wastewater that currently flows into the bay and transport it to a treatment plant, where it will be treated before being safely discharged. Coupled with stricter environmental regulations and industrial pre-treatment requirements, this will significantly reduce pollution entering the bay.
Partnership at the heart of the project
The Baie de Hann project demonstrates how international partnerships can combine development impact with economic value. The project brings together the Government of Senegal, Invest International, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Senegal, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Atradius Dutch State Business, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union, and other finance partners. Van Oord, a Dutch marine contractor, is delivering key elements of the wastewater infrastructure. In doing so, the company supplied Dutch engineering expertise while supporting employment, innovation and international collaboration within the Dutch water sector. The project illustrates how knowledge, finance and engineering can come together to support sustainable urban development in partnership with local institutions and international financiers.
Working together for lasting impact
While new infrastructure forms the backbone of the restoration programme, long-term success also depends on governance and sustainable management. Alongside construction work, Senegal is strengthening environmental regulations and introducing measures that encourage industries to reduce pollution at source. The aim is not only to clean up Baie de Hann, but also to prevent future pollution and protect the bay for generations to come. The restoration of Baie de Hann demonstrates how governments, development finance institutions and the private sector can work together to improve water quality, strengthen public health and support sustainable economic development. As progress continues on the ground, the project is becoming an important example of how integrated water management can bring about healthier communities, more resilient coastal cities and a cleaner environment.
