The relationship between technology and functionality of rural water points: evidence from Tanzania

摘要

This paper presents an analysis of the relationships between technology of water point,nmanagement related practices and functionality over time through an extensive water pointnmapping study made in 15 rural districts of Tanzania, which covered 15% of the total ruralnpopulation of the country. Results show irregular functionality rates at district level by technology,nbut reveal statistical dependence between functionality and technology at regional level.nManagement-related questions show that reported expenditure is the indicator most related tonfunctionality. All categories of water points show very low performance over time. In the first fivenyears of operation, about 30% of water points become non-functional. Only between 35% andn47% of water points are working 15 years after installation, depending on the technology. Byncategories, hand pumps are the less durable of the technologies studied. We suggest that morenemphasis has to be placed on the creation of community capacities to manage the servicesnduring and after the installation of water points. At the same time, the role of decentralisedngovernment has to be strengthened to provide support to community services in the long term.