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R Number:
R7128
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Contractor:
SWL Consultants
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Dates:
1 July 1998 to 9 September 2001
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Low cost technologies and software to encourage improvement of traditional water supplies by users; for incorporation in health education programmes/PAP particularly for those rural poor presently unable to sustain higher technology options.
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Executive Summary
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Objectives
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Purpose.
Development of models to enable small communities to improve their own supplies within Zambia, but applicable to neighbouring countries.
Outputs.
Proven methods for replicable and affordable source improvements primarily using local initiative, materials and expertise
Participatory modules which encourage community decision-making on technical options and water use/ hygiene strategies , and management
Advocacy to incorporate 'low cost solutions' into national policy, district planning and extension worker programmes and training, and the international dissemination of the experience gained.
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Methodology
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The project is working as far as possible through existing GRZ departments and extension staff, so that advocacy for change in attitudes and promotion of low technology comes from within the system, during the research period. The study is intersectoral and involves Ministries/departments of Health, Community Development, Water Affairs, Education, bi-lateral rural water supply programmes and Peace Corps volunteers who offer valuable long-term contact in specific communities.
The proposed phases are designed to -:
1. Collect sufficient information to provide or negate justification for promoting traditional source improvement
a) through studying the impact of existing improvements
b) through monitoring pilot projects
and if initial findings are positive,
2. Use pilot projects as a basis for developing and testing manuals for extension workers on motivational and technical issues, materials for advocacy to politicians and planners and as demonstration to encourage the spread of up-grading to neighbouring areas.
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Results
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The project has been running for six months and has established data collection on existing sources in 27 rural health centre catchments and set up a national database for traditional sources to accompany the existing one for protected sources. Methodologies for qualitative studies on socio-economic aspects including barriers to behavioural change, and identification of risk practices, have been developed and tested, and base-line data collection systems are being developed at present. Over 800 sources have been sampled and a national database has been established.
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Conclusions
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(Preliminary, as sample population still small)
Simple low cost improvements do lead to better water quality and availability, and are not purely cosmetic. Water quality in traditional sources seldom exhibits gross contamination, (70% with < 10 FC/100ml)
High-cost lined wells with bucket and windlass seldom provide better quality or greater reliability of supply than simple improvements undertaken by users, with local materials and their own funds.
Extension workers and policy makers are pre-occupied with water quality and tend to do little to promote greater water use but
Consumers are most concerned about improving abstraction so that they can more easily draw water.
Promotion of family wells may undermine the sustainability of communal supplies where the community manages O+M, with the poorest suffering the most
Low cost improvements, associated with relevant health promotion have the potential to provide small communities in several different environments with the opportunity to reduce the risks to health from inadequate sources and poor water use practice. The replicability of this approach means that a large number of people can receive significant benefit at minimal cost, rather than waiting more than a lifetime for a 'donor' well.
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Further Information
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List of Publications
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Mind the gap, a call for collaboration. Waterlines vol 17 no2. October 1998
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Collaborating Organisations
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The Director
Department of Water Affairs
P.O.Box 50288
Lusaka
Zambia
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RSU/National WASHE
P.O.Box RW308X
Lusaka, Zambia
(8th floor Indeco house
Cairo Road South End)
Email: nwashe@zamnet.zm
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Minisry of Health
Woodgate House
Cairo Road
Lusaka
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Rural Water for Health Project
(SNV)
P.O.Box 110142, Solwezi
North-western Province
Zambia
Email: rwhp@zamnet.zm
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Finbar O'Brien
Irish Aid
Irish Embassy
P.O.Box 34923
10101 Lusaka
Zambia
Email: iremb@zamnet.zm
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Peace Corps
Kabulonga
Lusaka
Email: pcz@zamnet.zm or
Email: pcznorth@zamnet.zm
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Contact Details for Further Information
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Dr S.E. Sutton
SWL Consultants
The Gables
14 Kennedy Road
Shrewsbury
Shropshire SY3 7AB
UK
Tel: 01743 351435
Fax: 01743 243845
Email: suttons_swl@compuserve.com
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