WASSER FÜR WASSER (WfW) | Project Work Africa

BASELINE SITUATION: JOHN LAING DISTRICT

Difficult Terrain

John Laing is located in the city centre of Lusaka, directly next to the WfW project area Misisi. John Laing is also located on solid stone, which makes the expansion of the pipeline network technically demanding.

Water Supply

The existing network included 15 open and 34 closed kiosks and was connected to the main urban water supply. The water infrastructure was overstrained with the increasing demand of individual households for safe and clean water. Several hundred cases of cholera were reported in the rainy season from December 2015 to March 2016 alone.

Wf W Info Grafik Sambia Karte Lusaka 2022 EN John Laing

150,000 residents

50% without safe access to drinking water

PROJECT GOALS

financing the construction of 10.5 km of pipeline network and 10 water kiosks

the Revolving Fund enables 1,000 household connections

providing safe, clean and affordable access to water to 65,000 people

MEASURES

In cooperation with the local partner organisations WSUP and LWSC, the pipeline network has been extended by 10.5 km and 10 new kiosks have been built. These measures provide 15,000 people with access to clean water. In a next step, water pipes were drawn directly to over 450 houses for the first time, which improves the water supply of additionally 7,000 people.

Construction of a water kiosk in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

WATER KIOSKS

The water kiosks were built by experts, including alumni from WfW-supported vocational schools. The kiosks are connected to the municipal mains.

Construction of pipe system in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

The pipe used for the expansion of the pipeline network is the PE100 - an extremely dense, fracture-resistant pipe that is particularly suitable for stony terrain and ensures a long-term water supply with minimized water loss.

Household connection in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

HOUSEHOLD CONNECTIONS

450 water connections are drawn directly to homes or front gardens of houses. Sign-ups are continuing to rise and these connections considerably reduce the time it takes to draw water and the risk of water being contaminated on the way home.

John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

REVOLVING FUND

A revolving fund was set up to finance the household connections. WfW provides the initial capital for the construction of the first connections. The water is metered in order to apply social pricing rates and charge each household for the corresponding use of water. This income is used to add to the fund so that other families can afford a household connection.

Involving local community through home visits and task force in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter, WfW

RAISING AWARENESS

Door-to-door visits and project task teams involve local residents right from the start and make them aware of the hygienic use of water.

IMPACT

This extension of the water supply network as well as the kick-off funding for a social payment plan for household connections considerably improves safe and affordable water access for residents in John Laing. Moreover, as household connection sign-ups continue to grow, this water supply system will become financially sustainable.

Residents of John Laing getting water at a water kiosk / Lior Etter

WATER KIOSKS

10 water kiosks were constructed as public water access points and spread across the area for easy access. The corresponding water supply network will provide a stable and durable system, thereby reducing non-revenue water from both physical and commercial losses.

202102 Haushaltsanschluss Kaumba Maggie Etter Lior 01

Maggie Kaumba presents her new household connection in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter

HOUSEHOLD CONNECTIONS

By facilitating water supply connections in John Laing through a revolving fund intervention, the equitable access to improved water supply was increased. As of November 2020, 450 household connections were installed in this low-income area and sign-ups for individual connections continue to grow.

201812 Eröffnung Wasserkiosk John Laing Etter Lior 03

Opening celebration of a water kiosk in John Laing, Lusaka / Lior Etter

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Through community mobilisation and sensitisation, people have signed up for household connections. This will ensure ownership and acceptance of the infrastructure, thereby ensuring sustainability.

Water buckets are filled with clean water from a kiosk / Lior Etter

SOCIAL CONNECTION PLAN

The implementation of an affordable payment plan for all residents and the creation of a reinvestment account ensured the revenues generated from John Laing could be reinvested into the services and directly benefit the community. This allows for financial and operational sustainability of the water system.

Payment at a water kiosk / Lior Etter

PAY POINT OFFICE

LWSC has set up a pay point office in John Laing to assist with the management of the new water system. This will make it easier for residents to make payments towards the self-financed household connections and pay water bills.

PARTNERS

Lusaka Water Supply & Sanitation Company (LWSC)

The water supply company LWSC reports to the Lusaka City Council and is responsible for supplying water to the capital. The peri-urban department of LWSC is responsible for the 35 poorest and least developed areas of the capital. This department is thus responsible for the planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of the supply system in WfW project areas.

Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)

WSUP is a British multi-sector partnership active in seven African countries. WSUP's aim is to work with urban water and sanitation companies to provide financially sustainable and affordable supply systems for poor urban areas. WfW works directly with WSUP Zambia. WSUP assumes the role of intermediary organisation between WfW and LWSC on the one hand and the monitoring and controlling of the projects on the other. In addition, WSUP is involved in the design and coordination of projects financed by WfW.