Assessing water service performances in rural sub-Saharan Africa environment: The case studies of two councils of the southern and eastern regions of the Republic of Cameroon (Central Africa)

Célestin Defo,Victor Dang Mvongo

doi:10.2166/washdev.2020.164

Célestin Defo, Victor Dang Mvongo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.164

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Abstract

Abstract This study uses multi-criteria analysis to assess water services performance provided to rural communities. The approach is based on five indicators (water availability, water quality, accessibility, affordability, and reliability) and allows the assessment of service levels. The indicators used provided a solid baseline for water services to identify a strategy for the improvement and achievement of universal access to water. We empirically applied the approach to rural water services in Cameroon and particularly in Mvangan and Mandjou Councils. A total of 77 water services has been investigated through technical inspection (water point inspection, flow measurement, and water quality analysis), semi-structured interviews with the technical services of these councils and surveys with water point committees, including 25 in Mandjou Council and 52 in Mvangan Council. The main results show that 43.40% of villages have enhanced services in Mvangan Council while only 4.76% of services are enhanced in Mandjou Council. Results also suggests that monitoring rural water services can improve the levels of services provided to populations and, hence, universal access to water. These assessments represent only a current snapshot of potable water delivery system conditions and should be conducted at regular intervals to track changes in overall and local conditions.

Highlights

For more than three decades, significant progress has been made in improving access to safe drinking water aroundDownloaded from http://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/11/1/37/876874/washdev0110037.pdf by guest38 V
The purpose of this article is to use a multi-criteria approach to assess water service levels of drinking water services received by rural communities at the village level
Drinking water services refers to the accessibility, availability, and quality of the main source used by households for drinking, cooking, personal hygiene, and other domestic uses

Summary

Introduction

For more than three decades, significant progress has been made in improving access to safe drinking water around38 V. For more than three decades, significant progress has been made in improving access to safe drinking water around. It is estimated that approximately 50 billion USD was invested in the construction of water infrastructure between 1990 and 2008 to improve access to safe drinking water (Carter & Lockwood ). The proportion of the population with access to drinking water from a water system has increased from 44 to 58% (World Bank ). The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), launched in 2000 by the United Nations, ended in 2015 with significant progress in accessing safe drinking water. The MDG on drinking water was achieved in 2010, providing water from an improved water source to 91% of the world’s population, up from 76% in 1990 (Mulenga et al ; WHO & UNICEF )

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