An Assessment of Sustainable Water Supply in Maiduguri/Jere L.G.A of Borno State
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
- To establish the management approaches in sustaining water supply in Maiduguri/Jere, Bornu state.
- To determine how community participation influences sustainability of water supply in Maiduguri/Jere, Bornu state.
- To investigate the extent to which finances influence sustainability of water supply in Maiduguri/Jere, Bornu state.
- To examine the extent to which technology influences sustainability ofwater supply in Maiduguri/Jere, Bornu state.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Management Approaches and sustainability of piped water supplies Management of water supply schemes can take various forms or approaches. A completed project can be managed by the community (through a water committee), the government, a private entity, or the community partnering with the private
Community management model
According to (Schouten & Moriarty, 2005), community management approach is aimed at strengthening the capacities and willingness of the community to take ownership and responsibilities of managing their water supply system. The cornerstone of community management states that; if communities are involved in decision-making it will result in equitable supply of services derived from community empowerment (UN, 2009/a).
Community Management (CM) has become a major subject in the design of rural water supply and sanitation projects throughout the developing world. For many years, community participation has been considered as vital for management of water and sanitation development projects, especially in rural sector. There have evolved different forms of community participation over the past few decades. For rural water supply, the prominent model is community management service model (WEDC, 2003). Community management has achieved wide spread acceptance and majority of rural water supply and sanitation projects all over Sub-Saharan Africa are currently applying it (IRC, 2003). Community management is evolved as an NGO- or donor-driven model for time-bound pilot projects. This model may play under the leadership of government with community institutions to scale up the rural water supply delivery with the support from local and national government structures (Schouten & Moriarty, 2004). Community management as a demand driven community-led approach incorporates participatory method and decentralization strategy to successfully deliver rural water supply services better than supply driven government-led models (Lockwood, 2004). It is argued that CM can improve efficiency, meet the target of the project within planned budget and enhance sustainability of rural water management (Mazango & Munjeri, 2009).
The basic assumptions of community management allow beneficiary community to develop, own and operate and maintain their facilities or systems (Harvey & Reed, 2007). Additionally, it plays important roles during the planning and implementation phases (WEDC, 2003). According to Harvey & Reed (2007), development stages of community management for water supply are; water committee formation, training and capacity building, Setting and collecting water tariffs and management and /or implementation of O&M activities of the system.
The core value of community management is to empower and equip communities to take control of their own development (Doe & Khan, 2004). However, community management encounters a lot of challenges. First, it cannot work successfully due to absence of right configuration of markets, government institutions and tradition (Kleemeier, 2000; Kleemeier, 2010). Second, a sticky problem with the volunteer based community management of water supply is that community-level committee and care taker lose their interests or trained individuals move away, community never feel as owners of the new infrastructure (Carter et al., 1999). Third, sustainable rural water supply projects in developing countries face several threats.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLGY
Research Design
A research design is a scheme, outline, plan, structure or strategy of investigation conceived so as to obtain answers to research questions and control variance during the primary data collection (Kothari, 2003). The proposed study adopted a descriptive survey design. A descriptive survey design involved collecting information by interviewing and administering household level questionnaire to a sample of individuals being suitable for extensive research and an excellent vehicle for the measurement of characteristics of large populations (Orodho, 2003). The study also used qualitative methodology through focus group discussion, Key informant interviews (KII), and Field observation. Cooper and Schindler (2001) agreed that focus groups are panels, facilitated by a moderator who meets with the audience for a specified period of time to exchange perspectives, knowledge and opinions on a topic.
Target Population
The study targeted a population of 180 households who are registered members and beneficiaries of water supply in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSIONS
Demographic characteristics
Responses by gender of the households
Table 4.1: Gender distribution of respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of findings
The results of the study were discussed based on the objectives of the study and the themes that were identified around the issues discussed in the literature review, which were guided by the research questions. Quotes from the interview transcripts were used to substantiate the themes.
The findings of the study showed that the water supply project members did not participate in the planning and decision to construct their water supply project. The government played a significant role in the establishment of the projects without the involvement and participation of the user communities.
The study also revealed that the projects were not being managed adequately hence were not performing optimally. The results also showed that most community members did not participate during the planning phase of the project cycle. During the implementation of the majority of the water supply community did not contribute anything, a few participated through provision of local and unskilled labour and contribution of cash. This was mostly out of ignorance. Sensitization and mobilization of communities was not adequately done by the planners and implementers of the project.
The findings further revealed that community members did not play any role in the choice of the site and technology for the projects. This was mostly done by implementers without involving the communities. It revealed that gravity fed water supply schemes are easier and cheaper to maintain as compared to pumping schemes. It also revealed that the choice of technology whether gravity fed or pumping was dependent on the topography/landscape of the area.
The findings of the study also showed that most of the water supply project beneficiaries earn more than Ksh5000 is sufficient to provide for their families needs and also meet other basics services e.g. payment for water services. The water tariffs set are fair and affordable but people are not willing to pay the user fees because they are not satisfied with the services offered. This contributes to financial unsustainability of water supply schemes
According to the study, most of the water supply schemes have water management committee but insufficient skills and knowledge to manage the water supply schemes remains a challenge and contributed to the unsustainability of the projects.
Conclusion
The government was the dominant implementer of water projects in Maiduguri/Jere. Both state and non-state actors utilized similar approaches in sensitizing the community and managing political interference. However, state and non-state actors differed in their community mobilization approaches where the former preferred local leaders while the later preferred local administrators. Reasons for project failure differed across the implementers with limited funds and poor management being key to failure of state projects while political interference for non-state actors. Community participation was vital to the success of the projects across the implementer divide.
Community members were not in the forefront of initiating projects in the L.G.A. Government actors and community members were not actively involved in site selection.
Community members were also not actively involved in construction/development of the project. Contribution by community members was not adequate and was normally in form of cash and casual labour. Poor participation by community members in the project was noted at the planning and design stages.
The choice of technologies utilized in the projects was mainly done by government implementers. Community members were not aware of the design and operation requirements of their projects except for a few trained technicians, operators who were accessible to spare parts.
Most beneficiaries of the water projects paid on monthly basis since tariffs were fare and affordable. Approximately half of the water projects in the L.G.A. had stalled hence not operational. Most projects experienced at least 1-3 breakdowns within their first year of implementation. Management committees were present in most projects and were charged with the responsibility of operation and maintenance using savings collected from payment of tariffs by the beneficiaries. Sustainability of the projects was hindered by poor management. Quality and quantity of the water from the projects was of great concern to the beneficiaries.
Recommendations
Approaches focusing on enhancing community participation and ensuring a thorough understanding of the projects should be prioritized at levels. Funds allocated to government implementers should be adequate and should be availed on time to facilitate project completion within the required scope. Non-state actors need to put in place appropriate measures for curbing political interference and stop relying on local administrators.
Community members should be engaged actively across all the phases of the project particularly during the planning and design phase. Engagement of community members needs to go beyond mere site selection and contribution of cash and provision of labour but input into the design and planning for the project.
Community members should be given priority in the selection of locally appropriate and acceptable technologies other than imposing on them. In cases where locally appropriate technologies are not feasible the technologies should be blended so as to promote ownership and acceptance by the communities.
Handing over of the water supply projects should not be abrupt but rather should be gradual stretching to at least 1 year following implementation of a new project. This will allow implementers enough time for detecting corrective actions including mainstreaming the management committees, the quality and quantity of the water from the projects.
It further recommends that Public Private Partnership management model be embraced to enhance the financial and technical sustainability of the water supply schemes.
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