Community water system infrastructure assessment in rural Uganda

Abstract

In 2012, the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) and its partners launched the Ruhiira Community Water Supply Project (CWSP) providing piped water to ∼5,400 people (82% of the local population). The sustainability of water systems across Africa is known to be woefully inadequate and in response the CWSP was built using a full-systems approach, considering system design from source to distribution, local economics, maintenance and adaptability. In 2013, the CWSP served the expected number of people; however, consumption was only 15% of the year-one prediction, based on the 20 L/d/person millennium development goal water access indicator. Consumption was a major determinant of financial sustainability and the CWSP operated at a loss during its first two years of operation. The CWSP reduced community members' distance to a clean water source and had a small impact on socio-economic activities, but did not lead to clear public health benefits.