Performance Report for FY 2009/10 - UWASNET

Performance Report for FY 2009/10
Box 6.1: Reflecting on sustainability of rural water services: Source Triple
–S Uganda
On 4 th August 2010, it was reported in The New Vision that over 140 boreholes
worth over UGX2.8 billion had been abandoned in Arua District after they broke
down. Quoting the district Chief Administrative Officer, the report said that out of
the 706 boreholes in the district, 146 were non-functional, while about 562 were
operational but on their last legs. It’s inconceivable the number of people affected by
the breakdown of 146 boreholes.
Cases of non-functional rural water facilities abound. Statistics of Water and
Environment Sector Performance Report 2008/2009 indicate that functionality of
rural water sources has stagnated at 80%-83% for the last five years. Meanwhile
investment in new water sources continues. The Water and Environment sector
performance report indicates that in 2008/2009 alone, a total of 2,604 water points
were constructed under the District Water and Sanitation Development Conditional
Grant. In the same year, NGOs and CBOs collectively constructed 2238 rural water
sources. This ensured access to safe water for an additional 900,000 people in
rural areas. By 2009, the rate of access to safe water in rural areas was at 65%, an
increase from 63% in 2008.
But with the non-functionality rate nearly 15%, there is 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. In its golden
indicator No.2, the Ministry of Water and Environment commits to reach a target of
90% functionality rate by financial year 2014/15. What strategies are in place to
achieve, even over shoot that target?
The challenge is not so much about raising the functionality rate to 100% as it is
about addressing the impediments to sustainable functionality of water services.
What are the impediments to sustainable rural water services?
Sustainability is largely about community ownership of the water service. Communities
have become disengaged from the process and ownership of the systems may be very
low; politicians and local elites interfere, promising free water for all and undermining
community efforts. 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 demoralizes the members.
Sustainability is also about technology choice. Technologies keep changing.
Some may be modified to suit prevailing times while others may be overtaken by
development and rendered obsolete. There is a whole host of problems associated
with functionality of technologies including systems on their last legs; inappropriate
technologies used; laxity in construction supervision; failing spare part chains; low
quality of construction; inadequate operations and maintenance provisions; and
vandalism. These all have a bearing on sustainability of water supply.
Sometimes sustainability may be affected by the cost of production. For example,
some areas have poor quality water and therefore, for every source developed
treatment will be required. This makes the investment too high and simple technology
is thus made complicated, which creates a sustainability problem.
75 | NGOs in the Ugandan Water and Sanitation Sector