Idrakua Lillian Amegovu Water Safety Conference 2010 Idrakua Lillian Amegovu Drinking Water Safety Management Challenges in the Rural Area in Uganda and Government Interventions

Introduction Water Safety Conference Population of Uganda estimated now to be 31.8 million Rural population is 85% of total (27m) Rural ‘Safe’ water coverage in is 65% (17.6m) Sanitation coverage is 69.7% Access to hand washing facilities is only 21% Rural population served mainly by point water sources: GFS, boreholes, protected springs and shallow wells Shallow wells and protected springs constitute about 54% of groundwater abstraction technologies Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Challenge: Drinking Water Safety during Natural Disasters Safety of drinking water can not be guaranteed during floods and landslides: During the 1997/98 El Nino floods cholera epidemic affected 47.759 people country wide out of which 1.955 died In 2007, out of 345 water sources tested by different agencies, more than 57% were contaminated 80% of protected springs were contaminated (graph) There was an outbreak of cholera after the floods in eastern Uganda affecting 532 people & killing 31 During the 2010 Bududa landslides and Butaleja floods, critical infrastructure including water sources were submerged, many water sources were contaminated and some cholera cases were reported E.coli=560 Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Challenge: Groundwater Abstraction Technologies Water quality is determined by the technology type used for abstraction: Graph depicts compliance to E.coli during dry season for 429 improved drinking water sources in 13 districts Prioritize poor technology options where WSPs are being introduced for small water supplies Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Challenge: Naturally Poor Groundwater Quality National Water Quality database statistics High iron levels: 0 – 5.440 mg/litre: GV is 1, MAC is 2. Salty water in some regions and mainly crater lakes: Chloride: 0 – 69.036 mg/litre:GV is 250, MAC is 500. Hard water: 0 – 8.200 mg/litre (CaCO3). GV is 600. MAC is 800. High Flouride present in volcanic rocks in Western Uganda: 0 – 42.5 mg/litre: GV is 2, MAC is 4. key issue Naturally poor water quality of improved water sources drives communities back to using unsafe traditional water sources Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Challenge: Drinking Water Contamination in Homes Progressive deterioration from source to containers & storage due to poor personal and domestic hygiene and water storage practices Health implication is several outbreaks of cholera and other water borne diseases despite the increasing national water and sanitation coverage Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Several issues surround O & M: ownership, resource constraints, spare Challenge: Poor O & M Several issues surround O & M: ownership, resource constraints, spare parts, non functional WUC etc Poor O & M results in water contamination Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Challenge: Urbanisation E.Coli = TNTC Lack of a comprehensive urban planning policy Public Health Act (2000) prohibits construction of pit latrines in urban centres; institutional framework for enforcement is weak Consequently many towns & peri-urban areas have highly polluted water sources: pit latrine construction near water sources leaking septic tanks faecal sludge dumping in the environment or drains during heavy rains flying toilets Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions: Institutional and Legal Framework The institutional framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRR) is the National Platform at the centre and District Disaster Committees are set up at LG level during emergencies Grassroot structures for O & M: Water and Sanitation Committee/WUCs, Caretakers and Handpump mechanics. Functions of Caretakers & WUCs that are elements of WSP include ensure that the source is well maintained e.g. clean surrounding, well fenced, covered soak pit carry out preventive maintenance of facility ensure clean containers are used for collecting water keep record on water source (documentation) Existing structures at the community level can be built on when establishing a comprehensive WSP for small water supplies Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions: Institutional and Legal Framework cont. The National Water Quality Management strategy (NWQM); an attempt to mainstream WSP concept into the legal framework recommends establishment of WSPs at all water facilities proposes a 3-tier water testing laboratory which includes establishment of basic water testing laboratories for each water supply scheme assigns local governments the role for operational water quality monitoring, maintaining hygiene at water sources and setting bye-laws Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions cont. Demonstration Water Safety Plan at Kyenjojo Water Supply Challenges inadequate capacity of the private water operators inadequate documentation of the system (designs and equipment) Lack of record keeping finding skilled team members was a problem team members taking on additional roles on voluntary basis was an issue maintaining a constant composition of trained team members and identifying willing external stakeholders and engaging them. Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions: Groundwater mapping Six set of maps produced for each district: water sources location groundwater potential hydrogeological characteristics water supply technology options, water supply coverage and groundwater quality maps. Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions: Using Appropriate Technologies An Iron Removal Plant(IRP) has been piloted for on-site treatment of iron An IRP combination of an aeration tray and a filtration unit Efficiency of iron removal ranged from 58- 99% main challenge of the technology is that slow flow rate of some IRPs discourage use by communities Ecological sanitation is being promoted in areas with high water tables, soft formations, rocky grounds or limited space such as peri-urban areas Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Government Interventions cont. Development of Resource Materials A Community Resource book: provides guidance on how to improve hygiene and sanitation practices at community and household level Participatory Training of Trainers Manual: This material focuses on sanitation and hygiene, gender and HIV/AIDS A Handbook on Safe Water Chain: provides information on how to maintain water safe from source, through collection, transportation to storage and consumption Partnership with NGOs, CBOs and UN agencies in hygiene promotion and response to emergencies Capacity building programs for LGs by central government (TSU) maybe good entry points for capacity development in WSPs Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia

Can the WSP concept be stretched to incorporate adaptation Conclusion Can the WSP concept be stretched to incorporate adaptation measures to climate change and variability for water supplies? Comprehensive WSP for small community water supplies should built on existing grassroot structures Development of appropriate resource materials/tools can help in water safety management at the community level Partnership with relevant stakeholders (NGOs, urban planners and municipalities) is key for hygiene promotion and catchment protection For scaling up WSPs and enforcing compliance, include WSPs in policies and performance contracts Water Safety Conference November 2-4 2010, Kuching, Malaysia