Assessment of Sustainability of Community Water Supply Projects in Kandy District

Abstract

Introduction of community water supply projects, implemented and managed by the community with an initial support from governments or international organizations has been considered as a useful strategy to provide access to safe drinking water to rural communities. Sri Lanka has also adopted this strategy through the Community Water Supply & Sanitation Project. Since there were concerns about the sustainability of numerous water schemes implemented throughout the country, a research was carried out in 20 community managed water schemes in eight Divisional Secretariat divisions in Kandy district to assess the sustainability of community based rural water supply projects using a methodology adopted by the UNDP and World Bank in six other countries. Participatory research methodology tools were used for the assessment based on 5 sub-indicators, such as physical condition, operation and maintenance, consumer satisfaction, financial management and willingness-to-sustain the system. The results show that the community water supply projects to provide water to rural areas of Kandy district has been a success since 14 out of 20 schemes were found to be sustainable indicating that the strategies followed during the project implementation have succeeded. However, the study has also highlighted areas which require further attention to ensure that these systems would continue to provide the expected services and improve the functioning of other potentially sustainable schemes in the longrun. A capacity building program along with an institutional arrangement to provide the support services by the authorities, at least in the short term, is considered vital to help improve the Community Based Organizations and to make them capable and mature entities.

Revenue Generation Aspects That Influence Financial Sustainability of Public Water Utilities in Kenya: The Case of Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company Limited

“…For instance, in a multi-country study that covered Bolivia, Peru and Ghana, Whittington et al (2009) reported that rural water utilities substantially improved billing accuracy, revenue collection efficiency, and reduced unaccounted for water, which in turn, enabled the utilities to eliminate water rationing. Similar findings appear in the outputs of studies conducted by Check (2015); Abebe, Bosona and Gebresenbet (2013); Adank and Tuffuor (2013), Mimrose andGunawardena (2011), Fragano (2010) and World Bank (2006), among others. Details are highlighted under the literature review section.…”

“…In Sri Lanka, Mimrose and Gunawardena (2011) also reported some linkage between financial stability of public water schemes and revenue generation aspects such as efficiency of billing systems, efficiency of revenue collection, non-revenue water as well as unaccounted for water. In Paraguay, Fragano (2010) reported that 67% of water projects involved in the study were consistent in providing services due to financial stability, 54% were in a good state of maintenance, while 29% had either expanded or were in the process of expanding their infrastructural systems.…”

Water Access Today and Tomorrow: Domestic Water Sustainability under Informal Water Supply Markets in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…al. 2015;Mimrose et. al, 2012;Giovannoni & Fabietti, 2013;Kyessi & Ka'Bange, 2014;Brown and Heller, 2017. Environmental & Health management abilities; Though informal water supply market is an old urban development phenomenon and has received abundant of jsd.ccsenet.org scholarly rhetoric (Kjellén & McGranahan, 2006;Wutich et.…”

“…al., 2004). Cooperation may not only build assets and governance capacities (hydro-technical, socio-social, economic and environmental/health, organisation and institutional) (Mimrose et. al, 2012;Rogers et.…”

Water Sector Reforms, Commercialization and Financial Sustainability of Public Water Utilities in Kenya: The Case of Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company Limited

“…Extant literature reveals that financial sustainability of public water utilities is a function of multiple factors, including financial management practices such as compliance with relevant regulations when procuring goods, services and works (Adank & Tuffuor, 2013); effectiveness of internal control mechanisms in enforcing adherence to expenditure policies (Nankunda, 2013); as well as relevance of activities on which water revenues are spent (Mimrose & Gunawardena, 2011;Wambua, 2004). Other aspects of financial management that influence financial sustainability of public water utilities include efficiency of revenue collection and ability to meet revenue targets, effectiveness of external audit in propagating ideal financial management practices as well as the degree of fiscal discipline, which manifests through the frequency of budget overruns (Adank & Tuffuor, 2013;Mimrose & Gunawardena, 2011;Whittington, Davis, Prokopy, Komives, Thorsten, Lukacs, & Wakeman, 2009).…”