scholarly journals Performance evaluation of water supply services in Chitungwiza: How water supply services mirrors poor governance and lack of management

Author(s):  
Luckson Zvobgo

Background: Provision of reliable water services is crucial for urban livelihood. In Chitungwiza, provision of water services has been deteriorating since the millennium with residents losing hope for better services. The poor supply of municipal water in Chitungwiza has led to a chronic ‘dry taps situation’ where household taps are dry from periods of several consecutive days to months.Aim: This article assesses the water supply challenges in Chitungwiza through performance evaluation of the water supply services.Setting: The study was conducted in 26 suburbs in the four residential zones of Chitungwiza Municipality.Methods: Performance evaluation of water supply services was carried out using seven performance indicators: coverage of water supply connection, extent of metering of water connections, presence of leakages, extent of non-revenue water, continuity of water supply, quality of water supplied and efficiency in redressal of customer complaints. Two hundred and ninety-eight semi-structured questionnaires were administered in four residential zones of Chitungwiza. Water distribution system surveillance and key informant interviews were also conducted.Results: The results indicate high non-revenue water, poor water infrastructure maintenance, lack of water investment leading to widespread leakages in the distribution system, poor water quality supply and unreliable services provision. A majority, 80.2%, rated the municipal water supply services as poor. To cope with this new reality, households in Chitungwiza implemented a ‘source switch’ to new sources.Conclusion: Household shallow wells were identified as the main adapting strategy with 51.7% households relying on wells despite concerns about the water quality of the wells. Chitungwiza municipality should implement structural reforms that allow the current water service provision to improve.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
S.N. Singh

The purpose of the article is to analyze and determine the willingness of citizens to pay for improving the quality of water services (the income derived from the consumption of water services does not cover the costs of providing such services). The study focuses on Ethiopia’s metropolitan areas (including households in town Mettu), as it is the problem of financial scarcity in Ethiopia that is particularly relevant and access to water services is a key component in calculating the human poverty index for most developing countries. Based on a survey of 79 Mettu town households, it is justified that residents view water not as a public good but as an economic good, as they are prepared to pay for it. The survey concluded that an average of 69% of Mettu households is willing to pay for improved water quality, with household income, water supply satisfaction, and supply price having a strong impact on households’ willingness to pay for improved water services. In particular, the older the locals are and the higher their income level, the more they are willing to pay for improved water quality and security of water supply. At the same time, rising levels of education in Mettu residents reduce their willingness to incur additional financial costs, more educated people view water services as a boon to the authorities. The results of the study proved that while providing local authorities with high-quality water supply services, more than 80% of households are ready and able to pay for services at a price that exceeds the tariff rate for water supply costs. The article stated that increasing the quality of water supply services by increasing the number of tariffs for water use will contribute to the growth of the financial revenues of local authorities, which will ensure the provision of water supply in the required quantity and on a stable basis. Keywords: improved water supply services, willingness, bidding Prices and tariff structure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197-1204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulfam Shahzad ◽  
Rashid Rehan ◽  
Muhammad Fahim

The assessment of existing water supply services was carried out through selected performance indicators with the aim of using that data in future for strategic planning of urban Mardan. The key performance indictors studied were selected to assess both the quantity and quality of water. The quality of water was assessed by turbidity, pH, and E-coli tests for samples collected at the start, middle, and tail end of the distribution system. The quantity of water supplied was measured by calculating discharges from water tapes at the three selected locations in the distribution system. A total of thirty samples were collected from ten union councils out of fourteen covering urban Mardan. A number of issues are highlighted in the overall water supply infrastructure and short, mid, and long term remedial measures are recommended. The results are presented in the form of an interactive map using Google Earth and VBA based dynamic database. It was found that the overall quality of water is generally acceptable for drinking. However, the presence of bacteria is an issue in many cases which needs to be resolved. A significant decrease in discharge is observed in the distribution systems away from the source due to leakages and illegal connections. A comprehensive overhaul of both management and infrastructure is required for sustainable and satisfactory level of services.


Author(s):  
Marian Kwietniewski ◽  
Katarzyna Miszta-Kruk ◽  
Kaja Niewitecka ◽  
Mirosław Sudoł ◽  
Krzysztof Gaska

The security of water delivery of the required quality by water supply networks is identified with the concept of reliability. Therefore, a method of reliability evaluation of water distribution of the required quality was developed. The method is based on the probabilistic character of secondary water contamination in the water supply network. Data for the method are taken from monitoring of the water distribution system. The method takes into consideration the number and locations of individual measurement points and the results of the tests of water quality indicators at these points. The sets of measurement points and water quality indicators constitute a matrix research (observation) field in the model. The proposed method was implemented to assess the reliability of a water distribution process with respect to water with the required microbiological quality indicators in a real distribution system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan J. Liu ◽  
Stephen Craik ◽  
David Z. Zhu

Predicting disinfectant concentrations in water distribution systems using water quality models requires the input of the wall decay coefficient of the disinfectant. In this study, field water sampling data was integrated with network hydraulic and water quality model simulations of a section of the municipal water distribution system in the City of Edmonton, composed of predominantly cast iron piping, to determine a wall decay coefficient for combined chlorine (chloramine). Unique combined chlorine wall decay coefficients that provided the best fit of model-predicted chlorine concentrations to the field data were determined at two temperatures. Using the determined wall decay coefficients, the water quality model can be used to predict combined chlorine concentrations.


Author(s):  
Valeria Mirela Brezoczki ◽  
◽  
Gabriela Maria Filip ◽  

This paper presents the analysis of the quality indicator of a subterranean raw water source, captured in Crăciunesti, Sighetu Marmatiei, followed by the description of the technological flow of capturing and chlorinating water with the aim of making it drinkable, and the analysis of the obtained values of the physical, chemical and bacteriological indicators. The period within which water quality was monitored for this paper covers four months (December 2016, March, April and May 2017). Within this period the analyses regarding water quality control were carried out by the laboratory of the Water Treatment Baia Mare. The analysis of the obtained results highlighted a series of problems regarding the existence of certain indicators/parameters with values above the legally admissible threshold with regard to water quality. The manganese found in raw water exceeds the admissible threshold by 160%, in December 2016, and by 120% in March 2017, but it is within limits during the months of April and May. The occurrence of colonies developed at 37 °C and 22°C in the raw water requires chemical treatment of the raw water aimed at disinfecting it. The parameters of drinking water correspond to the values admissible through the laws in force, the water being distributed to the consumers through the Drinking water distribution system in Sighetu Marmatiei.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-312
Author(s):  
A. Szuster-Janiaczyk ◽  
J. Bylka

Abstract The paper presents a detailed analysis of the quality of water pumped into a network and sampled from 39 monitoring points located on the network. A difference in the quality of water sampled from two different sources was demonstrated, as well as the impact of the mixing of the two waters in the water distribution system (WDS) on tap water quality. A mathematical model was used to identify the zones of water mixing and the areas of unfavourable hydraulic conditions (low flow rates and long retention times).


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Arai ◽  
A. Koizumi ◽  
T. Inakazu ◽  
A. Masuko ◽  
S. Tamura

This research is aimed at multiple-objective optimization of water operations in a water supply and distribution system. These objectives include reducing energy use while at the same time meeting water quality needs. The first objective is to propose water operations aimed at minimizing energy consumption. The second is to optimize water supply and distribution from the standpoint of water quality based on total organic carbon and the third is to attempt optimization that satisfies the first two objectives through multipurpose fuzzy linear programming (LP). This study mathematically formulates water operation planning issues focusing on reducing energy consumption and improving water quality in a water distribution system. Estimates show that a reduction in energy use of around 10% can be expected. Fuzzy LP is applied to achieve a balance among multiple objectives. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed multipurpose optimization when applied to trade-offs in water operation.


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