Multiple Uses of Domestic Water Systems

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Multiple Uses of Domestic Water Systems

• John Butterworth
• IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
• Winrock discussion forum on
• Policies and Management for Multiple Uses of
  Water
• 26 April 2006

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Background

• We should focus on meeting minimum needs and
  quality to improve healthsome for all
• Productive uses overload domestic water systems
  should be banned
• Potable water is too valuable for gardening
  should be conserved
• Beneficiaries of productive activities are the
  rich lack of equity

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Alternative approach

• Productive uses as a vital contribution to poor
  peoples livelihoods wider benefits of domestic
  water
• Water quantity is often the highest priority
  respond to demands
• Potable water often not supplied, and incremental
  costs may be affordable examine costs and
  benefits
• Productive uses can be designed forplan

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Multiple use water services
Infrastructure Example Key issues
Irrigation water quality for domestic use
Domestic water quantity for productive use universal coverage
Household level systems upscaling of access to sources and technologies
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PRODWAT group

• Coordinating partners
• Johannesburg conference 2003
• Think tank/ action research/ advocacy and
  information
• www.prodwat.watsan.net

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Bushbuckridge, South Africa

• Study by NGO AWARD
• 13 villages
• 7 villages where water is collected from distance
• 6 villages with reliable water, mostly from yard
  taps
• Productive use in all 13
• Basic water use 21-22 lpcd with no sig.
  difference
• Extra water consumed for productive uses
• 23 lpcd in worse villages
• 40 lpcd in better villages

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Bushbuckridge, South Africa

• Vegetable gardens, fruit trees, building
  brewing, livestock
• Income from productive uses was substantial in
  these poor villages
• averaged 34 per person per year in the worse
  villages
• averaged 62 per person per year in the better
  villages

Benefit/cost US/m3
Gross margin from vegetable gardens and fruit trees 1 to 2
Gross margin from beer brewing 100
Estimated cost of increasing water supply 0.1 1.0 (utility) 0.8 2.0 (vendors)
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Cochabamba, Bolivia

• Study by Agua Tuya and Centro-AGUA
  (www.musproject.net)
• Community managed peri-urban water systems
• Challacaba

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A virtuous cycle
Users have access to water at low cost and
appropriate quantity and quality
The service is improved reinforcing the needs of
users
Users utilise water for productive activities and
Improve their economic situation
Users improve their capacity and willingness to
pay for the service
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Cochabamba, Bolivia

• Water is affordable, less than half the cost of
  municipal supplies
• Piped water is available to households 24 hours a
  day and 7 days a week
• The supply is potable
• Households consume 65 lpcd increases to 86 lpcd
  for households with animals

Users have access to water at low cost and
appropriate quantity and quality
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Cochabamba, Bolivia

• 44 of users have animals (incl. cows, pigs,
  sheep and poultry)
• 69 of these households have cows, and there is a
  good market for milk
• cost of water for 7 cows averages US 35
• generateing an avg. income per family of US 1900

Users utilise water for productive activities and
improve their economic situation
Users improve their capacity and willingness to
pay for the service
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3
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Cochabamba, Bolivia

• Number of households connected has increased from
  36 to 60
• System has been upgraded with 100 investment by
  the community
• From a well with hand pump to metered household
  connections
• A second well is planned to increase supply for
  productive uses especially gardens
• The association is able to make loans to members

The service is improved reinforcing the needs of
users
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Cochabamba, Bolivia

• Key ingredients

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Zimbabwe

• NGOs like PumpAid are encouraging better access
  to groundwater
• Government support for rural water supply under
  strain coverage up but access down
• Rope and washer pumps are cheap and easy to
  maintain

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PumpAid Zimbabwe
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Conclusions

• People draw multiple benefits from access to
  small-scale water supplies
• can add up to an appreciable impact on
  livelihoods and poverty

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Conclusions

• narrow approaches to water supply that neglect
  the potential of productive uses are an
  opportunity missed
• lead to system failure
• lack of cost recovery

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Conclusions

• projects fail to address these needs because
  small-scale productive uses slip between
  sub-sectoral remits
• bottom-up, people-centred, and multi-sectoral
  planning processes tend to facilitate

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Conclusions

• Low and inflexible norms-based basic needs or
  rights-based approaches can be a handicap
• norms of 50-200 lpcd depending on setting are
  needed to provide sufficient water for productive
  uses

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Conclusions

• many positive examples are now emerging
• increase in recognition, across water
  sub-sectors, for holistic approaches to meeting
  peoples water needs at household level
• some convergence between sectors
• offers practical support to implementing IWRM

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More information

• www.prodwat.watsan.net
• Newsletter
• Book beyond domestic
• Thematic overview paper water and livelihoods
• Next meeting UK 12-13 June 2006