Improved water supply for all 4,500 residents in Nakatindi, Livingstone: Combining strong community engagement, efficient infrastructure improvement and strengthening of the local water utility will allow a sustainable water supply system.
BASELINE SITUATION: NAKATINDI DISTRICT
After having improved the water access for 8,000 residents in Burton district, WfW continues in Nakatindi to strive for higher quality of life for residents in low-income areas in Livingstone, Zambia.
Livingstone, like most major urban centres in Zambia, has several peri-urban, socio-economically disadvantaged regions, which are characterized by poor services including water and sanitation. Erratic water supply is one of the biggest challenges faced by these communities.
Nakatindi is a neighbourhood located in Livingstone, Southern Province. It has a population of over 4,500 residents and is administered under the Region South branch of Southern Water and Sanitation Company (SWSC).
4,500 residents
CHF 26 per month is the average household income
35% non-revenue water
4-8 hours per day of water supply
Prior to the implementation of this project, water supply in Nakatindi was poor. The existing network laid several years ago was dilapidated, there were regular pipe bursts and leaks. SWSC’s levels of non-revenue water stood at 35% as of 2017. This led to low water pressure and meant that the hours of supply were restricted to between 4-8 hours per day.
Furthermore, the network was not designed to feed the whole area, and as more and more households started having a connection in their yard, the network overburdened.
IMPACT: SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
1
access to high-quality and sufficient drinking water for all 453 households of Nakatindi
2
subsidized connection costs enable all households to connect to the network
3
strong community engagement and strengthening of local water utility for sustainable system
IMPROVEMENT OF THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The improvement of the water supply system of Nakatindi was planned, implemented and evaluated in cooperation with the local water utility SWSC and the partner organisation Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP).
Planning and establishment of monitoring system
A baseline and monitoring system for the efficiency of the water network was established to ensure that impacts can be quantified and monitored.
Infrastructure improvement
The installation and rehabilitation of basic infrastructure was implemented to increase the reliability and reach of the water supply. Upgrading the supply line through installation of 11.3 km pipes was vital to promote long term sustainable strategies that would ensure that water supply was assured for the target populations as well as for future expansion of the service.
Community involvement and commissioning ceremony
Members of the local community of Nakatindi were engaged throughout all phases of the project to build a strong sense of ownership for the infrastructure and to trigger active participation. Moreover, with several awareness raising events within the community, safe health and hygiene practices were promoted, in order to ensure the full benefits of the improved water supply system.
During the commissioning ceremony members of the community as well as representatives of WSUP, SWSC celebrated the initiation of the water access together with the local commissioner and the Nakatindi area councilor.
Subsidized connection costs for all beneficiaries
Before this initiative, the cost of individual connections was prohibitive for many residents, so they often had to travel about 300 meters to fetch water. Also, residents often had to queue for the few shared water points in the area.
With the introduction of a subsidized and inclusive payment model, all households could connect to the network and use water not only for drinking, cooking, bathing and laundry, but also for growing vegetables.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Check out the TV coverage of the water supply improvement with multiple interviews including the following protagonists:
"The objectives of the project were to improve service delivery to Nakatindi compound by providing safe, clean and easily accessible drinking water."
Ortega Choombe, Acting Senior Manager SWASCO
"We suffered for many years without piped water in this area, the only source had many challenges, especially for us old people. Since the installation we are comfortable."
Grace Kumoyo, Naktindi resident
"We engage the community, we ask them what their specific role would be, and inform the community to make sure they are building a sense of ownership."
Jessica Phiri, Community Relations Officer WSUP
"We are trying to find solutions for how we can manage non-revenue water."
Kameya Kashweka, Project Engineer WSUP
COOPERATION WITH PARTNERS
The partnership between SWSC, WSUP and WfW started in January 2018 and is essential for creating local sustainable impact.
Southern Water and Sanitation Company (SWSC)
Our partner SWSC is a high-performance water supplier with trustworthy management. The national regulatory authority NWASCO awards annual prizes and has awarded SWSC also in 2017 as the best supplier in the country.
SWSC reports to Livingstone City Council and is responsible for supplying the entire city.
Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)
WSUP is a British multi-sector partnership active in seven African countries. The aim of WSUP is to work with urban water and sanitation providers to provide financially sustainable and affordable supply systems for poor urban areas. WfW works directly with WSUP Zambia and Mozambique. WSUP assumes the role of intermediary organisation between WfW and SWSC on the one hand, and the monitoring and controlling of the projects on the other. In addition, WSUP is involved in the conception and coordination of projects financed by WfW.
