Access To Water

TOWARDS THE REGULATION OF THE COMPETENCES OF SOUTH AFRICA'S WATER SERVICES MANAGERS

by Mike Muller

Water Governance: Critique, theory and evidence from Asia

by Eduardo Araral

Finalist, 2010 Suez International Water Prize
Cited by President of National University of Singapore as an example of research which "advances knowledge and solves societies' problems."

Most scholars agree that improving water governance is the key to addressing water insecurity in developing countries.... more Most scholars agree that improving water governance is the key to addressing water insecurity in developing countries. However, in the last decade, not much progress has been achieved in terms of substantive theoretical, methodological and empirical contributions and much less policy impact. We argue that there is a need for a second-generation research agenda on water governance that is theoretically coherent, analytically robust, empirically grounded and policy relevant. We demonstrate this with a comparative study of water governance in Asia-Pacific based on a survey of 100 water experts from 20 countries in the region. We find that developed and developing economies have statistically significant variations in their water governance arrangements, which suggests the equivalent of a water Kuznets curve. We find that top countries with the highest governance scores differ significantly from the bottom ones in terms of legal accountability of water sector officials, pricing policy, linkage between water law and water policy, financing of water investments, functional capacity and balance, and accountability and regulatory mechanisms. We also find a statistically significant correlation with conventional measures of governance suggesting that, contrary to conventional wisdom, water governance reforms in developing countries is an evolutionary rather than a mechanical process of borrowing best practices from developed ones.

Small-Scale Water Providers in Kenya: Pioneers or Predators?

by Raquel Tsukada

Co-authored with D. Hailu and S. Rendtorff-Smith

There are two main schools of thought about the role of small-scale private water providers. Proponents view them as... more There are two main schools of thought about the role of small-scale private water providers. Proponents view them as pioneers and gap-fillers, supplying water where utilities are not providing it adequately. Sceptics argue that they are predators who charge high prices and supply poor quality water. This study examines
which argument holds true in the urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya. The study is based on household and provider surveys, as well as topical interviews with government officials and stakeholders. We find that smallscale providers increase water supply coverage and reduce time poverty.

As predicted by the “poverty penalty” concept, however, low-income households pay high prices for water of questionable quality. For two-thirds of households, expenditure on water is above the affordability threshold. And 57 percent of households consume below the water poverty line. Water is also exposed to contamination by external toxic residuals, mainly during transportation and as a result of pipe leakages. given their inability to store water, low-income households suffer disproportionally in times of scarcity and rationing.

As regards policy intervention, piped water connections on premises remain the most affordable and safe system of water provision. in the meantime, supporting fixed-point water suppliers such as public taps and water kiosks represents a second-best solution. Strengthening capacity within regulatory institutions is
required to ensure affordability and quality of the water provided.

"14 years in limbo waiting for the ‘Promised Land’"

by Linda Stewart

Report prepared for the Rooigrond Informal Community.

The Rooigrond Informal Settlement was established around 1993. A large part of the Rooigrond community consists of farm workers that were fired by white farmers in the area. The residents settled on a piece of land called ‘ERF 99: JO ROOIGROND’ after they were promised a piece of agricultural land called ‘BAUWEL 128 JO’ to pursue agricultural activities on by the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Tourism (NWDA). ‘ERF 99: JO ROOIGROND’ is adjacent to ‘BAUWEL 128 JO’. The Mafikeng City Council (MCC) initially agreed that the residents could settle on ERF 99: JO ROOIGROND but changed their decision in 2006. The MCC decided to resettle the residents on the promised piece of agricultural land, ‘BAUWEL 128 JO’. Since 2006 the residents have been threatened with eviction, but no eviction order has been issued. The residents are not happy with the unilateral decision taken by the MCC that they should be resettled. They attempted on numerous occasions to address the matter through various channels but with no result. The residents of Rooigrond feel that ‘BAUWEL 128 JO’ was promised to them to pursue their own economic activities on in order for them to become self sustainable and not be dependent on the state.

The major problems experienced by the Rooigrond community are the lack of and/or poor basic services delivery which... more The major problems experienced by the Rooigrond community are the lack of and/or poor basic services delivery which include housing, water, sanitation, health services and access to economic opportunities. These are mainly due to a failure of governance and the lack of appropriate channels for communities to voice their needs. No proper community engagement and participation had been evident. The only visible communication had been procedural and had not been intended to incorporate ideas and demands put forward by the participants. These problems have become part of the daily lives of the residents of Rooigrond informal settlement.

Zemiology and the dark side of globalisation: the case of Naivasha’s cut-flower industry

by Caroline McGill

draft only

Kenya’s cut-flower industry is primarily based along the shores of Lake Naivasha, a Ramsar Convention protected global... more Kenya’s cut-flower industry is primarily based along the shores of Lake Naivasha, a Ramsar Convention protected global wetland. This paper identifies the extent of some of the avoidable social harms of this industry, highlights potential problems for Kenya’s economy, and the implications for social justice. Kenya experiences water scarcity and, as a consequence of unsustainable industry practices, water is becoming ‘blue gold’ (Barlow and Clarke 2002). This has resulted in intertribal conflict, and food security is also an issue for Kenya’s poor. Flowers are 90 per cent water, so Kenya is effectively involved in a ‘virtual water trade’ with the UK (Allan 2003). Water scarcity has obvious implications for inter-generational, intra-generational and human rights and for those of non-humans. The short-term economic gains of this industry are likely to have long-term consequences with wide-reach - in spatial, temporal and economic terms. Power appears to allow corporations to continue relatively unchallenged, yet if Kenya were to tighten its regulations, the industry could relocate. Considering these issues from the zemiological (social harm) perspective ensures that those harms which are either not designated crimes, or are ineffectively regulated or unregulated, are given the recognition and attention they warrant.

Key Terms

Corporations; cut flowers; social harm perspective; water; ‘blue gold’; zemiology; justice; human rights; regulation

Submission to the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) on the Process of Preparing the Regulations May 2007

by Subodh Wagle

The advantages of the social harm perspective: The case of Naivasha's cut-flower industry

by Caroline McGill

Draft only

Kenya’s cut-flower industry is primarily based along the shores of Lake Naivasha, a Ramsar Convention protected global... more Kenya’s cut-flower industry is primarily based along the shores of Lake Naivasha, a Ramsar Convention protected global wetland. This desk-based multi-disciplinary research identifies the extent of some of the avoidable social harms of this industry, highlights potential problems for Kenya’s economy, and the implications for social justice. Kenya experiences water scarcity and, as a consequence of unsustainable industry practices, water is becoming ‘blue gold’ (Barlow and Clarke 2002). This has resulted in intertribal conflict and food security is an issue for Kenya’s poor. Flowers are 90 per cent water, so Kenya is involved in a ‘virtual water trade’ with the UK, one of the wettest countries in the world (Allan 2003). Water scarcity has implications for inter-generational, intra-generational and human rights. We also need to consider other life forms and the environment itself. The short-term economic gains of this industry will have long-term consequences with wide-reach - in spatial, temporal and economic terms. Power appears to allow corporations to continue relatively unchallenged, yet if Kenya were to tighten up its regulations, the industry could relocate to emerging markets. Considering these issues from the social harm perspective ensures that harms that are not designated as crimes for whatever reason, are given the recognition and attention they warrant.

Stewart (Jansen van Rensburg) L 'The right of access to adequate water [Discussion of Mazibuko v The City of Johannesburg Case No: 06/13865]' 2008 (19)(3) Stellenbosch Law Review 415-435

by Linda Stewart

Stewart L 'Considering sustainability when evaluating the right to water as a scarce natural resource right in the African Charter' 2010 11(3) ESR Review 25-26

by Linda Stewart

Does Society Win or Lose As a Result of Privatization? The Case of Water Sector Privatization In Colombia

by Carlos Ospino

Tackling water shortage by using solvent extraction for efficient desalination

by Kary Thanapalan

Co-authored with Dua.V.
Published in "UCL Grand challenges-expert symposium: Glass half empty? Urban water poverty halfway through the decade of water for life, UCL, June 2010"

Water contamination: a question of sustainability

by Giovanni Leonardi

Water and Business: A Taxonomy and Review of the Research

by Nancy Kurland

Why should business care about water? Water is a common-pool resource, critical to many business operations, which... more Why should business care about water? Water is a common-pool resource, critical to many business operations, which faces depletion if not sustainably managed. Based on popular and trade press and academic business research, the authors develop a taxonomy of water issues (water quality, quantity, use, sustainable resource management, company and industry
management). Through a review of 135 water-related articles  published in 49 leading business journals, the authors examine the degree to which business scholars address these issues. They discuss intersections, diversions, and gaps and conclude with insights for future research.

Public-Private Partnership: Governing Urban Water Services in Yazd

by Mahdokht Soltani

Conference Paper in International Conference on Water and Wastewater 2011, Tehran.
Authors: Mahdokht Soltani and Bahram Aminzadeh

مقاله ارائه شده در کنفرانس بین المللی آب و فاضلاب، 1390 تهران، برج میلاد
نویسندگان: مهدخت سلطانی، بهرام امین زاده

The paper is part of an extensive research project about the new tendencies on privatization of water services and... more The paper is part of an extensive research project about the new tendencies on privatization of water services and supplies in Iran, focusing on the case of City of Yazd which has encountered with drought and water-supply difficulties. Assessing appropriate approaches of contracting out the public services, this article studies potential rational outcomes of privatization in an institutional economic context. Although water-related issues are highly influenced by climate changes, there are always various mismanagements of human kind in local scale which totally affects the natural water cycle and water accessibility. Based on interviews and primary documents, the paper strives to provide an overview of actors and sectional decision-makers on water services, to explore the new trends of public-private partnerships in the city, and to find the vulnerabilities and potential risks in this new proposed system. Finally, the article briefly points to several resilient approaches on this system and
adaptive management strategies.

Key words: Public Private Partnership, Water Governance, Resiliency Theory, Adaptive Management, Institutional Economies.

Sociocultural Aspects of Water Usage amongst the Chagga People in North Eastern Kilimanjaro, and implications for anti-trachoma programmes

by Robert Thé

Unpublished dissertation submittedfor the degree of MSc in Medical Anthropology, Brunel University, Academic Year 2002-3. Research conducted on behalf of, and funded by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The focus of this ethnographic study is to examine the sociocultural aspects of water usage amongst the Chagga of... more The focus of this ethnographic study is to examine the sociocultural aspects of water usage amongst the Chagga of North East Kilimanjaro. 

Issues concerning water access involving economic and geographical inequalities, as well as threats to water access in the form of alcoholism will be considered, and various aspects of water usage practice will be explored in detail. A discussion of these findings will follow with reference to trachoma control programmes which are being implemented throughout the region.

The study will conclude with some recommendations for said programmes based on the insights gained from this research

Gotas De Chuva Para a Educação: Como Melhorar O Acesso à Água Nas Escolas?

by Raquel Tsukada

Water Supply In Rural Ghana: Do Women Benefit?

by Raquel Tsukada

Equitable Access to Basic Utilities: Public Versus Private Provision and Beyond

by Raquel Tsukada

Raindrops for Education: How To Improve Water Access In Schools?

by Raquel Tsukada

Low-Cost Technologies Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Case of Rainwater Harvesting

by Raquel Tsukada