Project 2011: Creating affordable water in the Banda District:

In Uganda, where 88% of the population lives in rural areas, nearly half of the residents do not have access to water. According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, access to functioning water sources can vary from 12%-95%. Furthermore, in densely populated urban areas like the Acholi Quarters, the price of water from informal vendors can fluctuate as much as 300% during different parts of the same day.  The economic repercussions of the water crisis, outside of prevailing health and sanitation risks, are magnified for the poor. And since the percentage of daily income used to purchase water is much higher for these individuals, these fluctuations in price have a staggering effect. If the poor had access to stored water, individuals could buy water when it is cheapest and store it for later use, either for themselves, or to sell.

SSPP will launch a three-year plan to improve access to water for residents in the Acholi Quarters by 1) purchasing water tanks to encourage entrepreneurs to engage in retail water sales, and 2) financing the construction of a water tap.  The revenue from the water vending businesses will repay the principle on the loans for the water tanks, and after the loans have been repaid, we will purchase more water tanks for other members in the group.  Once the loan has been repaid, the entrepreneurs will keep the water tanks.

Simultaneously, SSPP will partner with the municipal water provider to construct a water pipe to make water more accessible by all those in the Acholi Quarters.  Once a tap is functional, in combination with water stored in tanks, the cost of water can remain more stable, the operating costs will decline and SSPP can begin selling wholesale water directly from the tap.

Community in Photos