2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

BURKINA FASO PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Burkina Faso
ONEA, the National Office for Water and Sanitation (Office National de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement)
is responsible for water and sanitation in the 36 urban areas. ONEA has the reputation of being one
of the best performing companies in Western Africa.
While the supply of water to Ouagadougou is currently growing by 3% pa, the city's population (1.1
million in 2004) was growing at 4% pa. The four dams serving Ouagadougou supply about 70% of
the city's demand, currently estimated at 80,000 m 3 per day. During a water shortage in 2003, the
price of water purchased from private tankers rose from 200 CFA francs per 200 litres to 1,500-2,000
CFA, equivalent to US$17.50 per m 3 .
ONEA has been spending US$ 30 million per annum on water projects and services in recent years,
much of this on the Ziga dam project. The US$250 million dam at Ziga, 40km north of the city will
allow 50,000 new customers to be added to the 40,000 who currently receive piped water in
Ouagadougou. The actual connection rate in Ouagadougou is approximately one household
connection per 36 people.
The Ziga dam will also facilitate 400 more public fountains to the 600 currently in use.
Water coverage in Burkina Faso
WHO / UNICEF estimates 1900 1995 2000 2002
Urban - Access to improved drinking sources 71% 74% 77% 78%
Urban - Household connections 24% 24% 23% 23%
Rural - Access to improved drinking sources 39% 40% 42% 42%
Rural - Household connections 0% 0% 0% 0%
In June 2001, Veolia and Mazars et Guerard started a five year service contract with ONEA designed
to improve the authority’s management systems in anticipation of the Ziga dam’s opening in 2006. In
2002, Ondeo Degrémont was contracted to construct a €19 million water treatment plant on the Ziga
pipeline, 15km from Ouagadougou, which will provide a daily water output of 60,000 m 3 .
The Government of Burkina Faso decided in April 2005 to allowing private investors to re-enter the
water and sewerage sectors on a limited basis. An agreement was signed with Denmark to start a
pilot development program (PADSEA). Dkr10.3 million has been contributed by Danida in 2005 for
capacity building and related work in this area. This programme aims to improve the quality of the
private water and sanitation operators. A commission of NGOs, businesses, and research groups has
identified that the major challenge lies in the adaptation to the conditions and procedures of free
trade.
Sources:
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Plan: Coverage Estimates, Improved Drinking Water; Burkina Faso, July 2004
International Secretariat for Water (2005) Blue Book, Burkina Faso, ISW, Montréal, Canada
66 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006