Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi
The Malawian Government adopted a community-based management model for rural water supply systems, which assumes that users would cover costs related to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of their communal water points through regular cash contributions. These communal water points are mostly b...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/9/625 |
| _version_ | 1797661685288271872 |
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| author | Kondwani Andreah Mtafu Manda Mavuto Tembo |
| author_facet | Kondwani Andreah Mtafu Manda Mavuto Tembo |
| author_sort | Kondwani Andreah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Malawian Government adopted a community-based management model for rural water supply systems, which assumes that users would cover costs related to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of their communal water points through regular cash contributions. These communal water points are mostly boreholes fitted with Afridev hand pumps. However, studies have shown that Afridev hand pumps continue to fail within 3–5 years after installation, despite having a design lifespan of 10–15 years, mostly due to insufficient O&M. Therefore, this study assessed the adequacy of tariffs being used at different water points in Mangochi District in Malawi through a household (HH) survey with a sample size of 288 HHs and a market prices survey. The results showed that 90% of the HHs were making contributions that could not sustainably support the lifecycle O&M costs or the afterlife replacement of the Afridev hand pump. This study suggests a consistent minimum annual water point fund collection of MWK142,050 (US$172.29)1. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other areas. It is also recommended that further studies should focus on HH affordability with respect to the recommended tariff.
HIGHLIGHTS
Low maintenance funds contribute to the failure of most Afridev handpump-fitted boreholes within 3–5 years.;
Nearly 62% of households (HHs) contributed MKW1,200/year (MKW100/month).;
HH contributions of MKW1,200/year may sustainably support the maintenance needs of an Afridev handpump for a period of only 3 years.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:48:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1ab5aadbe6c4248836fb3dfbba4fc9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2043-9083 2408-9362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:48:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1ab5aadbe6c4248836fb3dfbba4fc9b2023-10-11T15:26:24ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development2043-90832408-93622023-09-0113962563410.2166/washdev.2023.183183Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, MalawiKondwani Andreah0Mtafu Manda1Mavuto Tembo2 Department of Agrisciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, Malawi Department of the Built Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, Malawi Department of Agrisciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, Malawi The Malawian Government adopted a community-based management model for rural water supply systems, which assumes that users would cover costs related to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of their communal water points through regular cash contributions. These communal water points are mostly boreholes fitted with Afridev hand pumps. However, studies have shown that Afridev hand pumps continue to fail within 3–5 years after installation, despite having a design lifespan of 10–15 years, mostly due to insufficient O&M. Therefore, this study assessed the adequacy of tariffs being used at different water points in Mangochi District in Malawi through a household (HH) survey with a sample size of 288 HHs and a market prices survey. The results showed that 90% of the HHs were making contributions that could not sustainably support the lifecycle O&M costs or the afterlife replacement of the Afridev hand pump. This study suggests a consistent minimum annual water point fund collection of MWK142,050 (US$172.29)1. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other areas. It is also recommended that further studies should focus on HH affordability with respect to the recommended tariff. HIGHLIGHTS Low maintenance funds contribute to the failure of most Afridev handpump-fitted boreholes within 3–5 years.; Nearly 62% of households (HHs) contributed MKW1,200/year (MKW100/month).; HH contributions of MKW1,200/year may sustainably support the maintenance needs of an Afridev handpump for a period of only 3 years.;http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/9/625afridev hand pumplifecycle costsoperation and maintenancesustainability |
| spellingShingle | Kondwani Andreah Mtafu Manda Mavuto Tembo Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development afridev hand pump lifecycle costs operation and maintenance sustainability |
| title | Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi |
| title_full | Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi |
| title_short | Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi |
| title_sort | tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in mangochi district malawi |
| topic | afridev hand pump lifecycle costs operation and maintenance sustainability |
| url | http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/13/9/625 |
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