Water Sector Overview

1991 saw a change in the Government of the Republic of Zambia that introduced general public service reforms and the liberalisation of the economy. This created a conducive environment for water sector reforms. In order to implement the reforms, a guide was required for the entire process. Thus, seven sector principles outlined in the 1994 National Water Policy were adopted as a first step to the implementation of the water sector reforms:

The Seven Sector Principles

Separation of water resources functions from water supply and sanitation;
Separation of regulatory and executive functions within the water supply and sanitation sector;
Devolution of authority to local authorities and private enterprises;
Achievement of full cost recovery for the water supply and sanitation services through user charges in the long run;
Human resource development leading to more effective institutions;
Technology appropriate to local conditions and
Increased GRZ spending priority and budget spending to the sector.

(Source: National Water Policy, 1994.)

The Water Sector can be said to have two sub-sectors, Water Supply and Sanitation (Urban & Rural) and Water Resources Management.

In accordance with the Local Government Act, the National Water Policy and the Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) and the Local Authorities have the responsibility for Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) – both urban and rural. MLGH provides policy guidance, technical and financial control, and facilitates mobilisation of foreign and local funds for capital development.

The responsibility for the management of water resources falls under the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation.

URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

Oversight:
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing has the overall mandate to coordinate urban water supply and sanitation (UWSS) to all users through Local Authorities (LAs). All the LAs have devolved the authority for management of UWSS to private enterprises (Commercial Utilities (CUs)) which have been established by the formation of joint ventures among LAs.

Service Provision:
There are currently 11 CUs licensed to provide WSS services in the urban areas of the 10 provinces of Zambia. Solid waste management and drainage remain the direct responsibility of the LAs. The LAs as shareholders appoint a Board of Directors to oversee the operations of the CU. The day-to-day running of the utility is the responsibility of the appointed management.

There are also six private schemes licensed to provide water supply and sanitation services as a fringe benefit to their employees. These are owned and run by companies whose core business is not water supply.

Regulation:
The National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) is responsible for regulation of water supply and sanitation service providers. The Ministry of Health is responsible for water quality regulation and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is responsible for environmental protection.

Sector Development:
The Government has developed a holistic and integrated National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NUWWSP) to cover the period 2011 to 2030 for improved livelihood and health of the urban population in Zambia. The NUWWSP consists of a coherent set of institutional and sector support activities aimed at developing and sustaining water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and drainage infrastructure and services in the urban areas of Zambia.

The Urban population is served by various forms of WSS. NWASCO regards individual household connections, communal taps, water kiosks and public tabs served with treated water from the WSS provider’s network as acceptable water points. For sanitation, NWASCO considers service by offsite (main system/network) and septic tanks only for onsite as acceptable.

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

The responsibility for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) is with the Rural WSS Unit under the Department of Housing and Infrastructure Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has developed a National Rural WSS Programme (NRWSSP) to increase and improve access to water supply and sanitation. The NRWSSP has a clear set of priorities and common approaches that are intended to both speed up the achievement of the MDGs and meet the Government’s vision for universal coverage. The Programme consists of a coherent set of investment, institutional and sector support activities aimed at accelerating sustainable water supply and sanitation services to the rural population.

The rural population is served by various forms of WSS. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) regards protected wells, boreholes and taps as safe sources of water supply, whereas unprotected wells, rivers and lakes/streams are considered unsafe sources of water supply. WHO and UNICEF categorise drinking water sources into improved or unimproved sources rather than safe or unsafe. CSO adopted the WHO definition for the first time in the 2006-2010 LCMS Report. Improved drinking water sources include protected well, borehole, piped water, public tap, protected spring and rainwater.

For sanitation, the national definition of “adequate” sanitation facilities includes pour flush latrines, pit latrines with sanitation platforms or other concrete platforms, traditional pit latrines with a smooth floor surface, ventilated improved pit latrines, septic tank latrines (i.e. aqua privy) and EcoSan latrines. WHO and UNICEF disaggregate facilities into improved or unimproved facilities which include the national definitions, as well as, flush toilet, piped sewerage system, pit latrine with slab and composting toilet.

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (WRM)

The responsibility for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) is with the Rural WSS Unit under the Department of Housing and Infrastructure Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has developed a National Rural WSS Programme (NRWSSP) to increase and improve access to water supply and sanitation. The NRWSSP has a clear set of priorities and common approaches that are intended to both speed up the achievement of the MDGs and meet the Government’s vision for universal coverage. The Programme consists of a coherent set of investment, institutional and sector support activities aimed at accelerating sustainable water supply and sanitation services to the rural population.

The rural population is served by various forms of WSS. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) regards protected wells, boreholes and taps as safe sources of water supply, whereas unprotected wells, rivers and lakes/streams are considered unsafe sources of water supply. WHO and UNICEF categorise drinking water sources into improved or unimproved sources rather than safe or unsafe. CSO adopted the WHO definition for the first time in the 2006-2010 LCMS Report. Improved drinking water sources include protected well, borehole, piped water, public tap, protected spring and rainwater.

For sanitation, the national definition of “adequate” sanitation facilities includes pour flush latrines, pit latrines with sanitation platforms or other concrete platforms, traditional pit latrines with a smooth floor surface, ventilated improved pit latrines, septic tank latrines (i.e. aqua privy) and EcoSan latrines. WHO and UNICEF disaggregate facilities into improved or unimproved facilities which include the national definitions, as well as, flush toilet, piped sewerage system, pit latrine with slab and composting toilet.