Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting Best Practices Guide - International ...

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Household Level Sub-surface Rainwater Storage Tank Household Above ground Galvanized Steel Storage Tank Household storage tank in Mozambique Household storage tank in Zimbabwe Following best practices for beneficiary selection results in the adoption of the most appropriate oof-top RWH technology for the targets. In the rural context of Inhambane in Mozambique, beneficiaries opted for a local innovation, the ‘Pote’ (above left), which the program adapted for improved water supply results. This is a low cost, easy construction storage option which uses locally available inputs. In urban and peri-urban areas near Harare, Zimbabwe, feasibility studies, willingness to pay studies and cost effective initial investments into the technology informed the choice of galvanised steel tanks (above right). SPHERE standards set the average water use for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene in any household is at least 15 litres per person per day in emergency settings. 2 ɇɇ Assess potential drawbacks. Working with the community, assess any potential drawbacks or conflicts that may arise in relation to rooftop RWH systems. It is also useful to draw on lessons learnt from previous experiences in the community. These experiences can be projects by the community itself or projects implemented by any other stakeholders. 3 4.1.2. Technology Selection To confirm a choice of roof-top RWH technology, project proponents should consider the following questions: ɇɇ What are the existing water supply alternatives? Any historical data on water availability and quality and on the feasibility of other water supply options such as hand pumps will be useful. ɇɇ Why do they need supplementation? Is there an established demand for the alternative technology and what are the commitments for operation and maintenance? ɇɇ What are the social, economic and environmental implications of alternative water supply options? For example, considering the ability of the community to invest in roof-top RWH systems, hand pump, or any public supply options; and whether this project or alternative water supply options which the community is choosing from threaten the livelihood of any community members, such as water vendors, or centrally supplied water systems in urban areas, for example. 4 ɇɇ Project proponents must share roof-top RWH technology options with the entire community. Such an exercise ensures that the project is a demand-led initiative. The community should be engaged in order to identify the technology that is most feasible and sustainable to their context. ɇɇ Each technology option should be presented on equal terms, exploring the merits and disadvantages of each. 5 This can be a costbenefit analysis of the different technology and material options. ɇɇ Project proponents must advocate for their chosen technology option. Having been presented alongside alternative technologies, social marketing including information 14 Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting Best Practices Guide
dissemination can sensitize the community on the potential benefits of the project’s technology. ɇɇ As part of advocacy, present a cost-benefit analysis with linkages to local institutions. This will, for example, make clear the cost of treating sicknesses due to drinking water from an unprotected water source, as opposed to the benefits of investing in clean water supply technologies. Establishing these factors in selecting a technology enables project managers to create realistic budgets, strategies for cost recovery and/ or levels of subsidies. 6 4.2. User Contributions Involving the communities at all stages, including financial and labour contributions is an important practice to be incorporated into project plans. Beneficiary contributions can be in the form of funds, labor, and materials, and they should be maximized, sustained, and quantified during the planning and design stages. This is an exercise to be carried out at all relevant levels: household, institutional, or wider community. Funds: A community may contribute only a fraction of the cost by way of funds, but much more in-kind, for example, by giving sand, water or bricks. Labor: Some roof-top RWH techniques involve substantial amount of unskilled labor such as earth moving and fetching of local materials. The willingness of a community to contribute labor in such a case is a substantial contribution which affects the cost of the project. It also has a positive impact on building community ownership of rooftop RWH systems. Benefits of assessing the affordability of roof-top RWH systems for the target beneficiaries, and their willingness to pay for them: ɇɇ Ability to create correct cost calculations ɇɇ The assessment will demonstrate the market opportunity for local business, and allow project to develop any private sector financing options. There is need for financial mechanisms to support the demand and income levels of interested households. The project can proceed to build local private sector capacity in roof-top RWH system manufacturing- making the systems available on the local market, at affordable prices to the local community. ɇɇ Ability to plan for building willingness of communities to cost share through, for example, advocacy and social marketing. ɇɇ Enhances a sense of (and practical) project ownership by the beneficiaries. 4.3. Collaboration with Government, Local Authorities and Partners Project success will be greatly enhanced by collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in the target areas. Projects are often implemented in areas where there are preexisting or on-going projects by government, other organisations, or the community itself. Emphasis should be placed on building upon existing plans or strategies of the Government and partners to use resources more efficiently and maximize the collective impact. 4.3.1. Compliance Governments will have national strategies for improving water supply and sanitation. Projects should work within these, to gain support of their project and more simply because they share the same overall goal. Key guidelines are: ɇɇ Particularly in rural areas, seek permission and involvement of authorities from the highest level down, including NGOs and all other local stakeholders, and agree on standards from the earliest stages. ɇɇ Get permission to make use of available toolkits and curriculums. Establishing a working partnership means parties will collaborate to adapt them and to incorporate missing content where it is identified. ɇ ɇ As appropriate, ensure that relevant stakeholders are informed and invited to Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting Best Practices Guide 15
Page 1 and 2: Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting Best
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Page 5 and 6: 1 Introduction As the global popula
Page 7: 2 Background 2.1. Overview Roof-top
Page 10 and 11: There are parameters and approaches
Page 12 and 13: 3.4.1. Water Storage Methods contin
Page 14 and 15: 3.4.2. Catchment areas The majority
Page 17: 4 Software: Community Ownership The
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Page 25 and 26: 5 Replicability Factors The applica

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