There is need to invest in functional clean water systems
Dec 16, 2010
IN August 2010, it was reported in <i>The New Vision</i> that over 140 bore-holes worth over sh2.8b had been abandoned in Arua district after they broke down.
By Lydia M. Jadwong
IN August 2010, it was reported in The New Vision that over 140 bore-holes worth over sh2.8b had been abandoned in Arua district after they broke down.
Quoting the district chief administrative officer, the report said out of the 706 bore-holes, 146 were non-functional, while about 562 were operational but on their last legs.
It is inconceivable the number of people affected by the breakdown of 146 bore-holes.
Cases of non-functional rural water facilities abound. Statistics from the Water and Environment Sector Performance Report 2009/2010 indicate that functionality of rural water sources has fallen to 80% from 83% in 2008/2009.
Meanwhile, investment in new water sources continues. The report indicates that through the district water and sanitation development conditional grant, a total of 3,392 new rural water points were constructed, serving about 670,910 users.
The national safe water coverage for rural water supply now stands at 65%. But with the non-functionality rate at nearly 20%, there are a number of people who continuously lose access to safe water. Unfortunately, these are mostly in the rural areas.
If not reversed, this trend is likely to result into the reversal of the gains that have been made in terms of access to safe water in rural areas. It is, therefore, important to address the impediments to sustainable functionality of water services.
Sustainability is about community ownership of the water service. However, communities have become disengaged from the process and ownership of the systems is low.
There is low user participation and responsibility for operations and maintenance of water points.
This is coupled with low community involvement in planning, financing and implementation of water supply projects.
In addition, there is the issue of user fees, which are hard to collect and are often abused by the collectors. Moreover the water user committees are voluntary which often demoralises the members.
Interference by politicians with promises of free water further undermines any community efforts to manage water sources. In fact, many users take water for granted, arguing that it is free and God-given so they do not see any reason to invest in its supply.
Sustainability is also affected by the many problems associated with functionality of water technologies. These include laxity in construction supervision; failing spare parts and poor quality of construction. There is also inadequate operations and maintenance, vandalism and the need to replace obsolete systems.
It is worth noting that what lies at the heart of these challenges are attitudes and behaviours. Reliable and functional rural water supply services can be provided at scale in Uganda, if there is a change in attitudes at different levels in the sector.
At community level, water users should start considering water sources as their own and not a free item given by either nature or the Government.
At a higher level, service providers should start investing in the full-life cycle of sources, rather than in new systems alone.
The writer is the communication and advocacy officer of Sustainable Services at Scale (Triple-S)
IN August 2010, it was reported in The New Vision that over 140 bore-holes worth over sh2.8b had been abandoned in Arua district after they broke down.
Quoting the district chief administrative officer, the report said out of the 706 bore-holes, 146 were non-functional, while about 562 were operational but on their last legs.
It is inconceivable the number of people affected by the breakdown of 146 bore-holes.
Cases of non-functional rural water facilities abound. Statistics from the Water and Environment Sector Performance Report 2009/2010 indicate that functionality of rural water sources has fallen to 80% from 83% in 2008/2009.
Meanwhile, investment in new water sources continues. The report indicates that through the district water and sanitation development conditional grant, a total of 3,392 new rural water points were constructed, serving about 670,910 users.
The national safe water coverage for rural water supply now stands at 65%. But with the non-functionality rate at nearly 20%, there are a number of people who continuously lose access to safe water. Unfortunately, these are mostly in the rural areas.
If not reversed, this trend is likely to result into the reversal of the gains that have been made in terms of access to safe water in rural areas. It is, therefore, important to address the impediments to sustainable functionality of water services.
Sustainability is about community ownership of the water service. However, communities have become disengaged from the process and ownership of the systems is low.
There is low user participation and responsibility for operations and maintenance of water points.
This is coupled with low community involvement in planning, financing and implementation of water supply projects.
In addition, there is the issue of user fees, which are hard to collect and are often abused by the collectors. Moreover the water user committees are voluntary which often demoralises the members.
Interference by politicians with promises of free water further undermines any community efforts to manage water sources. In fact, many users take water for granted, arguing that it is free and God-given so they do not see any reason to invest in its supply.
Sustainability is also affected by the many problems associated with functionality of water technologies. These include laxity in construction supervision; failing spare parts and poor quality of construction. There is also inadequate operations and maintenance, vandalism and the need to replace obsolete systems.
It is worth noting that what lies at the heart of these challenges are attitudes and behaviours. Reliable and functional rural water supply services can be provided at scale in Uganda, if there is a change in attitudes at different levels in the sector.
At community level, water users should start considering water sources as their own and not a free item given by either nature or the Government.
At a higher level, service providers should start investing in the full-life cycle of sources, rather than in new systems alone.
The writer is the communication and advocacy officer of Sustainable Services at Scale (Triple-S)