Water Supply
Water Supply
Water Supply
2004
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1
6. HAZARD MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................15
These guidelines focus on rural and urban water supply projects for human needs.
They do not cover water supply for agriculture, livestock, forestry or fisheries, as this
issue is discussed in the other sectoral guidelines such as Irrigation, Livestock and
Rangeland Management, Forestry and Fisheries.
These guidelines highlight major issues and potential impacts that should be taken
into account during the preparation and assessment phases. The appropriate en-
hancement and mitigation measures should be integrated as early as possible,
preferably in the project design.
Any types of intervention in the water supply sub-sector shall be undertaken through
an integrated water resources management approach. In the case of water supply
for human consumption, there are two categories of intervention: (i) rural water sup-
ply and (ii) urban and peri-urban water supply.
Rural water supply can be ensured from groundwater, surface water or rainwater. To
meet the demand, the three resources can also be used simultaneously. In general,
rural water systems are decentralised and rarely include piped distribution systems.
Most often the beneficiaries participate in the development process, assist in the
construction of the system and become responsible for its operation and mainten-
ance.
Drilled wells and spring tapings are typical decentralised groundwater systems. Sur-
face water supply systems can include small impoundment works (normally earth
dams). Rainwater systems can be supplied by a natural catchment on non-perennial
streams or by using cisterns (ranging from buckets and barrels up to closed tanks
made of concrete, sheet steel or plastic) with associated intercepting and collecting
surfaces (roofs, sealed slopes, etc.).
Urban water supply systems consist of facilities for meeting the water requirements
of urban inhabitants, administrations, businesses and industries. The distribution of
the water may be achieved with piped systems or non-piped supply points (e.g.
wells).
The description and justification of a water supply project shall cover at least the fol-
lowing elements:
Stakeholders’ water uses, demands and needs, distance to water points, etc.
Wastewater installations.
Existing and proposed location of human settlements and public services such as
health centres and accident and emergency units.
Anticipated liquid, solid (including waste) and gaseous emissions, and sources of
nuisances (at construction and operation stages).
The main issues related to water supply projects can be summarised as follows:
4.1 Poverty
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Economy Increase in local development and employment. Give preference to local employment (men and women) and local inputs (food, basic ma-
Constraints for water suppliers to meet profitability ob- terial) to the extent possible.
jectives. Base profitability projections on conservative revenue assumptions.
Exclusion of specific groups from water facilities bene- Identify why specific groups are not benefiting from the project and adopt corrective meas-
fits. ures as required.
Disruption of economic activities, particularly if they Ensure that the poor and other vulnerable groups can continue to safely satisfy their basic
represent potential sources of water contamination. water needs.
Decrease in water prices for those who were buying Take into account the capacity to pay of men and women when determining user fees.
from resellers. Offer alternative income opportunities to men and women having a limited access to or
Increase in water prices, in particular when no user loosing productive means.
fees were in place before the project.
Information, Development of skills in water conservation and man- Assist groups of individuals, men and women, who may lack the capacity to participate in
education and agement. water management processes.
communication Exclusion of specific groups from the water manage- Provide water suppliers and workers, men and women, with the training required to pre-
ment processes due to a lack of knowledge. serve water resources and to offer reliable water services.
Lack of training of workers in charge of water system Develop and implement a literacy program especially aimed at poor people and women.
operations/exploitation. Provide education to men and women on hygienic conditions and water conservation, tak-
Lack of awareness on the importance of hygiene at ing into consideration gender roles and responsibilities.
water points. Inform men and women on potential project benefits for the community and identify indi-
vidual behaviours that would contribute to achieve those benefits.
Access to infra- Better access to drinking water. Ensure adequate water supply for addressing the effective demands of the host and mi-
structures and Decreased pressure on health services due to a re- grant populations.
services duction in the prevalence of certain diseases. Develop alternative options to palliate for service breakdowns.
Increased water demand leading to insufficient ser- Establish regular controls and maintenance activities to improve the reliability of the sys-
vices to satisfy basic water needs. tem.
Unreliable water service and/or quality. Involve the population (men and women) in the management of new and improved ser-
Inappropriate water storage facilities causing water vices to ensure their sustainability.
contamination. Implement water fees/tariffs and other demand management measures to avoid the
wastage of water or over-consumption.
Establish quality control for water supply and storage facilities.
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Air Degradation of air quality by dust and Install and operate air pollution control equipment, as needed
vehicles emissions. Near the residential areas, avoid noisy works after regular working hours.
Increase in ambient noise. Maintain vehicles and machinery in good condition in order to minimise
Odours from sludge disposal operations. gas emissions and noise.
Use dust and noise attenuators such as vegetation hedges along trans-
port corridors in order to minimise noise and the aerial transport of dust.
Recover sludge with lime or earth at disposal sites.
Water Interruption of surface water flows during Do not hamper drainage of surface water and plan for restoration meas-
construction. ures after construction.
Variation in the level of groundwater table Do not establish sewer lines in stream channels.
resulting from changes in the drainage. Plan and set up on-site sanitary facilities for the disposal of wastewater.
Contamination of surface and underground Maintain vehicles, machinery and equipment in good condition in order to
water quality by wastewater and hazardous avoid leaks and spill of hazardous materials (hydrocarbons, chemical
materials, including stored chemicals products products, etc.).
used for raw water treatment. Ensure a safe management of hazardous materials (hydrocarbons, chem-
Risk of water pollution as a result of dis- ical products, etc.).
charge of wastewater and filter-washing wa- Take all precautions during the refuelling of vehicles and machinery, and
ters. forbid the refuelling near water bodies.
Risk of eutrophisation of the water body re- Avoid crossing permanent waterways; if necessary, locate the crossing
ceiving wastewater discharge. where the banks are stable and the waterway the most narrow.
Over-pumping of groundwater. Conserve the vegetation along water bodies and near wetlands.
Saline intrusion in coastal area. Plan emergency response measures in case of accidental spill.
Favour the recycling of filter-washing waters.
Plan the discharge of wastewater in accordance with the absorbing capa-
city of the receiving water body.
Adjust the annual pumped water volumes in accordance with the aquifer
annual refill.
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Demographic Decrease in the mortality rate, particularly for Work closely with host communities to facilitate the integration and acceptation of
trends children, contributing to increasing life expectancy. migrants (men and women).
Increase in the population due to migrants attrac- Establish labour camps at a reasonable distance from villages.
ted by new economic opportunities (water-using in- Whenever possible employ women or married men with nearby families.
dustries, trade) and a better access to drinking wa- Assist non-resident workers in order to encourage their families to join them.
ter.
Increased ethnic diversity after migration.
Temporary imbalance between men and women
due to the arrival of male workers, which can lead
to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.
Migration and Decreased standard of living for involuntarily dis- Minimise resettlement by negotiating rights-of-way rather than proceeding with ex-
resettlement placed people (likely few people). propriations.
Inappropriate living conditions for non-resident Provide equivalent or better housing and accompanying facilities to involuntarily
workers. displaced men and women in accordance with consultation results, prior to taking
Population pressure due to the arrival of non-res- possession of their land.
ident workers and migrants attracted by new eco- Plan adequate settlement areas with appropriate housing and services (water and
nomic opportunities. sanitation) and food supply for non-resident workers and their families.
Unplanned human settlements. Provide complementary training /support to men and women to facilitate adjust-
ment during the transition period.
In accordance with priorities of displaced men and women, ensure appropriate
funding for resettlement and compensations, in particular for productive land
owned, occupied or cultivated.
Establish access mechanisms in order to control unorganised settlements.
Natural re- Sustainable management of water resources. Design the project and coordinate work with the various land users (men and wo-
sources and Improvement in water resources conservation. men).
land manage- Perturbation in land and water uses, which can Consult all groups of the population using water and/or discharge potential con-
ment lead to social conflicts. taminants in water (surface or underground).
Rivalry associated with incompatible uses up- Clearly define water rights in consultation with affected groups, ensuring the parti-
stream and downstream of the water supply cipation of women and men.
source/system. Ensure that water user fees and conditions are defined in consultation and well un-
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Communicable Changes in exposure to: Provide information, education and communication about safe uses of drinking
diseases Water borne diseases e.g.: diarrhoea and cholera water.
associated with contamination, intermittency and Facilitate the implementation of appropriate latrines and other sanitation facilities.
poor sanitation. Environmental management for vector control; contact avoidance via settlement
Water related diseases e.g.: malaria, filariasis, location and design and use of bednets and repellents; rapid diagnosis and treat-
dengue associated with drainage, storage and ment; focal insecticide and molluscicide application; covered water storage; re-
wastewater disposal. duced domestic storage; functional drainage.
Water contact diseases e.g.: schistosomiasis and Strengthen medical services to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment.
swimmer's itch associated with impoundment. Ensure safe water and food storage and handling.
Water washed diseases e.g.: scabies and skin in- Implement HIV/AIDS prophylaxis for men and women through appropriate health
fections associated with insufficient supply. promotion as well as wide distribution and use of condoms; employment opportunit-
Sexually transmitted infections e.g.: HIV/AIDS as- ies for project-affected women; provision of family accommodation for workers.
sociated with migration, construction, economic Assure continuous supply.
change. Avoid using contaminated groundwater and unauthorized connections.
Respiratory infections e.g.: TB associated with Avoid contamination via runoff and contamination of intake and storage equip-
crowding. ment, particularly through users’ education and workers’ training.
Ensure piped supply is accompanied by appropriate wastewater drainage and
disposal.
Project settlement housing designed to avoid crowding, and provide ventilated kit-
chens and efficient stoves.
Refer to measures proposed under Environment and Poverty crosscutting themes
as they address many health determinants of communicable diseases.
Non communi- Poisoning associated with excess chemicals Monitor water quality and adjust chemical content as appropriate.
cable diseases (e.g.: fluoride, nitrite, arsenic, chlorine).
Diseases associated with chemical deficiencies
(e.g.: iodine is associated with goitre and cretin-
ism).
Injuries Increased risk of accidents on working sites and Develop, communicate and implement safety and preventive measures for the
roads due to increased traffic. population (such as traffic calming devices).
Work injuries. Control access to working sites.
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Division of la- Reduced time allocated to water supply by wo- Provide means to women and children to further reduce efforts devoted to water
bour (paid or men and children due to more reliable and closer transportation (donkey, wheelbarrow, etc.).
unpaid work) drinking water sources. Plan supply alternatives in case of water system breakdowns.
Reduced efforts associated with water transport-
ation.
Income gener- Local jobs obtained by women during construction Offer project employment opportunities to men and women, encourage women to
ating activities or operation phases. apply and select candidates according to their competencies.
(money or Increased revenues for women who have addi- Ensure that women have access to existing and planned facilities to take advant-
kind) tional time for income-generating activities. age of new opportunities.
Opportunities to increase income and diversify Ensure that women are consulted in determining water user rights and fees.
revenue sources through induced development. Ensure that project promoters do not reinforce cultural barriers affecting negat-
Reduced available income for women when user ively women.
rights and fees represent additional expenses.
Limited participation of women in project benefits
due to cultural barriers.
Access to and Loss of control over water supply when women are Provide men and women with an equivalent opportunity to make their demands
control over not involved in decision-making processes. known to project decision-makers.
productive Supply options do not respond to women priority Recognise the specific demands and capabilities of women in water manage-
factors demands. ment.
Involvement in Involvement of women in decisions related to wa- Establish committees involving women and men for managing water resources
societal organ- ter management. and supply facilities.
isation Women get organised to obtain training in hy- Ensure that women are involved in user fee collection and allocation decisions.
giene and water conservation adapted to their spe- Facilitate the creation of women groups when women express an interest in being
cific needs. better organised and represented.
Component Potential Beneficial and Adverse Impacts Enhancement and Mitigation Measures
Consultations Integration of men’s and women’s concerns into Consult affected men and women at all phases of the project, including for estab-
the project design. lishing user fees.
Participation of the community, men and women, Provide the opportunity to affected groups to participate in the project develop-
in project development. ment process by implementing adapted participation mechanisms.
Increased support for the project among affected Use consultations to identify traditional patterns of right and responsibilities con-
populations. cerning water supply and to determine ways to increase the involvement of ex-
Exclusion of specific groups from consultations, cluded groups (particularly women).
particularly women. Inform consulted men and women on how their concerns were taken into ac-
Water user fees determined without consulta- count.
tions.
Civil society Creation of community-based organisations in Ensure that men and women have the opportunity to organise themselves in
strengthening water management. groups representing their collective interests.
Participation of the community, men and women, Transfer to water management community-based organisations the maintenance
in the project exploitation through the involvement of the system, including revenue collection activities whenever possible.
of community-based organisations. Facilitate the participation of existing CSOs in the project taking into account their
Expansion of the CSO network working on envir- respective intervention priorities and strengths.
onmental protection.
Lack of collaboration between new and existing
CSOs working on environmental issues.
The major external factors that may jeopardise the outcomes of water supply pro-
jects are the following:
Industrial and domestic effluents, as well as pollution from agricultural and animal
production, can lead to the degradation of drinking water quality. To minimise the
risks of water pollution, it is recommended to adopt an integrated water resources
management approach, taking into account the location of potential contamination
sources while planning the water supply project.
Social Instability
The emergence of community violence, vandalism, civil war, border raids and bound-
ary disputes are phenomena that generate social instability and can lead to migra-
tion, disruption of the food chain, water contamination and intermittent supply, injur-
ies, epidemics and mortality. Good governance and poverty alleviation policies are
means to prevent social instability.
6. Hazard Management
The main hazard associated with water supply projects is the following:
Component Indicators
Poverty
Economy Annual revenues generated by water supply operations com-
pared to projected revenues.
Number of jobs created (directly and indirectly) and occupied by
men and women.
Proportion of income spent on water by families before and after
the project.
Information, education and Understanding of concepts on hygiene and water conservation
communication by trained men and women (survey).
Access to infrastructures and Number of water points as a function of the population.
services Distance to the closest water point.
Number of domestic water supply breakdowns.
Average number of regular hours of services.
Change in water user fees.
Results of quality control of facilities.
Environment
Water Groundwater static level and refilling capacity.
Parameters of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality for
evaluating water quality at the sources and wastewater discharge
sites.
Quantity of water used compared to initial estimates.
Soils Evolution of erosion signs.
Ecosystems Surface of sensitive areas affected by the project (encroachment,
sedimentation on spawning grounds, river banks erosion, etc.).
Natural and cultural heritage Natural and cultural sites affected by the project.
Population
Demographic trends Evolution of the mortality rate per age group.
Population growth and ethnic composition.
Migration and resettlement Number of informal settlements built by migrants.
Natural resources and land Number of conflicts among water users.
management Evolution of water consumption per inhabitant (litre/day).
Presence of water user organisations, including men and wo-
men.
Revenues from water fee/tariff collection and allocation.
Quality of life Level of satisfaction of beneficiaries toward water supply services
(survey).
Health Outcomes
Communicable diseases Prevalence rates of diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis,
diarrhoea and HIV.
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African Development Bank (2000). Policy for Integrated Water Resources Manage-
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