PRODWAT: Thematic group on productive uses of water at the household level

Multiple Uses of Domestic Water Systems

John ButterworthIRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

Winrock discussion forum on ‘Policies and Management for Multiple Uses of Water’

26 April 2006

Background

• We should focus on meeting minimum needs and quality to improve health…some 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

Alternative approach

• Productive uses as a vital contribution to poor people’s 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 for…plan

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

PRODWAT group

• Coordinating partners

• Johannesburg conference 2003• Think tank/ action research/

advocacy and information• www.prodwat.watsan.net

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

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)

Cochabamba, Bolivia

• Study by Agua Tuya and Centro-AGUA (www.musproject.net)

• Community managed peri-urban water systems

• Challacaba

A virtuous cycle

3

1

4 2

Users improve their capacity and willingness to pay for the service

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

Users utilise water forproductive activities and Improve their economicsituation

The service is improved reinforcing the needs of users

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

1

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

2Users improve their capacity and willingness to pay for the service

3

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

4

Cochabamba, Bolivia

Key ingredients

Appropriate te

chnology a

nd support

Ownership of th

e syste

m: empowerm

ent

Appropriate fin

ancial m

odels

Users improve their capacity and willingness to pay for the service

3

The service is improved reinforcing the needs of users

4 Users utilise water forproductive activities and Improve their economicsituation

2

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

1

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

PumpAid Zimbabwe

Conclusions

• People draw multiple benefits from access to small-scale water supplies

• can add up to an appreciable impact on livelihoods and poverty

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

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

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

Conclusions

• many positive examples are now emerging

• increase in recognition, across water sub-sectors, for holistic approaches to meeting people’s water needs at household level

• some convergence between sectors

• offers practical support to implementing IWRM

More information

• www.prodwat.watsan.net

• Newsletter

• Book: beyond domestic

• Thematic overview paper: water and livelihoods

• Next meeting: UK 12-13 June 2006