Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Water supply and sanitation tariffs in low-income settlements have been kept at very
low levels by central government controls on local authority rates (Gandidzanwa 2003).
This is a challenge to the sustainability of any infrastructure development. However, it
has been shown that in many low-income areas, a majority of residents would be
prepared to pay higher rates if services were improved (Manase et al. 2004).
Point of use interventions, such as filters, have been suggested as a possible way to
reduce the health impact of poor quality domestic water (Moyo et al
.
2004). However, for
such interventions to be sustainable in low-income areas, including informal settlements,
the technologies need to be readily available and at low cost.
Figure 6.8. Residents queuing at a
communal tap in Epworth, the “card”
required is proof that the resident has
paid for water.
Providing security of tenure for gada (informal) residents would also assist the
situation. Provision of tenure has helped in the success of some informal settlements
rehabilitation or upgrading programs (Choguill 1999, Kombe & Kreibich 2000, Pugh
2000). Not all informal settlement residents are from the lowest income group of society.
Some residents occupy land in informal settlements due to lack of adequate sites in
formal suburbs or lack of construction or purchase credit (Magatu 1991). Many of such
residents are likely to be willing to invest in upgrading their household water supply or
sanitation, but are unlikely to do so as long as they hold no tenure. Security of tenure has
been shown to readily lead to community and individual investment in infrastructure
