Provision of Water to the Poor in Africa: Experience with Water Standposts and the Informal Water Sector

65 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Sarah Keener

Sarah Keener

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Manuel Luengo

World Bank

Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee

World Bank

Date Written: July 1, 2010

Abstract

Standpipes that dispense water from utilities are the most common alternatives to piped water connections for poor customers in the cities of Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifty-five percent of the unconnected urban population relies on standpipes as their first water source. Other informal water providers include household resellers and a variety of water tankers and vendors, which are the first water source of 1 percent and 3 percent of the urban population, respectively. In the cities studied, the percentage of unconnected households ranges from 12 percent to 86 percent of the population. The percentage of unconnected people covered by standpipes is substantially higher for countries with higher rates of household connection, while the percentage of unconnected people covered by water tankers or water vendors is higher for countries with lower rates of household connection. Water prices in the informal market are much higher than for households with private connections or yard taps. Although standpipes are heavily subsidized by utilities, the prices charged by standpipe operators are closely related to the informal water reseller price. Standpipe management models also affect the informal price of water. For example, the shift from utilities management to delegated management models without complementary regulation or consumer information has often led to declines in service levels and increased prices. Standpipes are not the only or even the most efficient solution in peri-urban areas. Programs that promote private household connections and arrangements that improve pricing and services in the household resale market should also be considered by policy makers.

Keywords: Town Water Supply and Sanitation, Urban Water Supply and Sanitation, Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions, Water and Industry, Water Conservation

Suggested Citation

Keener, Sarah and Luengo, Manuel and Banerjee, Sudeshna Ghosh, Provision of Water to the Poor in Africa: Experience with Water Standposts and the Informal Water Sector (July 1, 2010). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5387, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1650478

Sarah Keener (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Manuel Luengo

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
282
Abstract Views
2,420
Rank
197,179
PlumX Metrics