Issues and challenges of Livingstonia gravity fed water supply scheme

Abstract

The success of a water supply scheme depends on a complex mix of managerial, environmental, social, financial, and technical issues and the capabilities of the institutions and infrastructure designed to support it. Most water supply schemes in the northern region of Malawi have not been studied, Livingstonia is a good example. A study using a cross-section survey design was conducted in order to assess key issues affecting the performance of Livingstonia water supply scheme. The quantitative phase included the following hydrometrics: tap delivery rates, stream discharge rates, laboratory testing of water and physical inspection of water taps. The qualitative phase involved the characterization of water resource utilisation, facility management assessment of local understanding of catchment conservation and protection legislation, and practices through interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. The study has shown that the scheme is meeting the water demands of the community except for few villages due to geographical and financial factors. The study has further shown that the scheme is contributing to the creation of employment. The scheme is run by a technical team which comprise of employed staff in addition to area mechanics. There is high water facility functionality in the scheme due to active community water committees. However, the quality of water is biologically substandard due to the encroachment of the water source by wild animals and people. In terms of practice, the study has shown that although there are efforts by various players on protecting the water source, there is massive destruction of forest cover by education institutions for energy purposes and cultivation of buffer zone of the water source. In terms of legislation, the study has shown inadequate knowledge and awareness on policy and standards in community committees in managing water and environment. The study has also indicated the lack of legal status of local committees and failure of the government to ratify fiscal incentives as stipulated in EMA 23 cap vii section 31(a) as crucial factors affecting the promotion of environmental compliance in the catchment area of the scheme. To address the challenge of unequal coverage of water in the study area the study recommends the use of alternative water supply technologies especially boreholes for safety purposes rather than vi springs. The study recommends chemical treatment of water before usage to safeguard user’s health. On the same, the study recommends collaborative water quantity and quality monitoring programs with various stakeholders in the area. On environmental impacts, the water conduits should be covered to avoid overflows and contamination, the study further recommends rehabilitation of aprons to improve water point hygiene. Legislatively, the government should facilitate implementation of incentives for friendly users of environmental resources. Enforcement of rules and regulation by a non- legal entity is very difficult because of many freedoms that the new political dispensation in Malawi has brought. This study, therefore, recommends government support to local institutions and committees to attain legal status through legal registration. Most of them have written constitutions and by-laws but more often they are challenged by deviant community members due to lack of legal authority.