Water for All: Books: In the Pipeline: Water for the Poor

Background

In 2002, ADB commissioned a study to understand how urban poor people get their water if not from a connection to a formal utility. The study found that as many as 50% depend on a variety of small-scale water providers (SSWPs) for most or all of their daily water needs. These vendors may be a small company, cooperative, or enterprising individuals operating within the community.

Although filling a market void, these vendors charge anywhere from 5-20 times more than what a local utility charges for the same amount of water. As much as 15% of the poor's income goes to them. One of the study's recommendations is to include small piped water networks (SPWN), a system used by some SSWPs, in water supply development strategies.

Small piped water networks (SPWN) refer to the delivery of piped water services by a water provider, using materials conforming to the main utility’s standards, operated legally to bring affordable, safe, and reliable water to a community until the main utility is able to reach these consumers directly.

In 2005, ADB’s Implementing Pilot Projects for Small-Piped Water Networks project demonstrated the use of SPWNs for speedy piped water delivery in urban poor communities in India, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The project

Completed water and sewer lines and helped establish a community organization to oversee households’ payment of connection charges in Ahmedabad City, India
Bought piped connections to 1,650 households in 4 months, some through a 3-year flexible installment scheme for connection charges in Manila, Philippines
Brought piped connections to 500 households in 3 months and reduced power costs for those with tube well pumps in Tien Giang province, Viet Nam
Published this SPWN Toolkit

ADB’s Recommendation

While the ultimate goal is still to provide the urban poor with safe, affordable, and permanent connections from the water utilities, the value of SPWNs as interim solutions cannot be denied. Given thus, ADB advises that

City development strategies recognize SPWN’s role in local area development and put in place a framework to govern their operations
Water utilities work with SPWN, and vice versa, to improve the level of technology implemented and ensure its compatibility with the utility’s so that a future transition to utility supplied water is smooth
Small networks be formalized with licensing, exit strategies, and take-out agreements
Minimum standards include risk and payback requirements
Legal and contractual conditions be created
Small operators be integrated into the water supply chain to the best extent possible

Water

Books In the Pipeline: Water for the Poor — Investing in Small Piped Water Networks

Books
In the Pipeline: Water for the Poor — Investing in Small Piped Water Networks