Factors affecting the sustainability of community-managed piped water supply schemes: a case of Miseu folo and East bank in Chikwawa district, Malawi

Abstract

Developing countries especially those in the sub-Saharan Africa have the highest non-functional rate of community-managed water supply schemes. This happens after governments and other development partners have invested a considerable amount of funds in constructing and rehabilitating these water supply schemes. However, there are efforts by the Government of Malawi to reverse the situation through various interventions such as management of these water supply schemes under Water Users Association (WUA) model. This study aimed at exploring factors affecting the sustainability of community-managed water supply schemes under WUA management model in Chikwawa District in the Southern Region of Malawi. The study employed descriptive design using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The target population consisted of both males and females who were water users and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of Miseu Folo and East Bank Water Supply Schemes in Chikwawa District. Data was collected from 148 respondents of whom 124 were water users and 24 were BOT members from the two selected water supply schemes. The study found that the functionality of community-managed water supply schemes in Chikwawa District was staggering at 59.7%. The study revealed that Miseu Folo Water Supply Scheme (MFWSS), with boreholes operated by hydro-power had a higher functionality rate (100%) than East Bank Water Supply Scheme (EBWSS), a gravity-fed piped water supply scheme whose functionality rate was 26.5%. The study revealed that the majority of BOT members acknowledged lack of capacity to manage water supply schemes sustainably and they could not elaborate clearly their roles and responsibilities in the WUA Board. The BOT members further acknowledged that engagement of a Local Utility Operator (LUO) to run a water supply scheme on their behalf could promote sustainability due to the LUO’s vast skills in administration, operations and maintenance. However, the BOT members perceived that the LUOs were too expensive for Community Managed Water Supply Schemes thereby depleting the limited available funds on their remuneration. vii The study further revealed that water users from EBWSS preferred borehole water to tap water which is currently supplied by their scheme because they were not satisfied with the services rendered by the East Bank Water Users Association (EBWUA). These findings were contrary to those found in MFWSS where water users were satisfied with the water supplied by the Miseu Folo Water Users Association (MFWUA). It was also found that user satisfaction, presence of alternative water sources, payment of water tariffs and cost recovery were some of the factors affecting the sustainability of community-managed water supply schemes in Chikwawa District. Overall, the study revealed the need to revisit the WUA management model which is advanced by the Government of Malawi if the piped water supply schemes are to remain sustainable. Furthermore, both the WUA Board and General Assembly acknowledged the need for external support from other stakeholders. Therefore, involvement of the Central Government, District Councils and NGOs in the management of piped water supply schemes is critical to sustainability of the water supply schemes rather than leaving this enormous task to communities alone.