By Winston Muleba JR
“Water resources play a critical part in the economy of Zambia. As water underpins all three pillars of sustainable development, namely the economy, society and the environment. Its challenges become an important aspect of the long-term economic growth and social upliftment of Zambia.
Water resources, and the essential services they provide, are critical to achieving poverty reduction, inclusive growth, public health, food security, human dignity for all, as well as long-lasting harmony with Earth. Meeting the needs of this development places significant pressure on water resources, as sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industries are dependent on water resources; sectors also influence the use, impacts and governance of water resources and the livelihoods of the population of Zambia,” according to a joint report by Zambia Breweries (ZB), Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and World Wide Fund (WWF) Zambia on the 'social and economical value of water in Zambia'.
Studies show that Zambia has an abundant supply of water with atleast 45% of the total water resources of the southern African sub-region found in the country, and the underground water resources can be used at no great cost in areas where surface water is inadequate.
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) states that
groundwater provides about 45% of global domestic water demands and 75% of Africa’s. In places where groundwater is readily available and of good quality, it can be a reliable resource.
And research reveals that Zambia has extensive surface water resources, with a
number of large perennial rivers. The major dammed surface water reservoirs are used primarily for electricity, but also provide water supplies. Much of the population relies on groundwater for domestic water supplies, both directly and via urban municipal water supply schemes, and groundwater is also used for irrigation and livestock watering.
In recent years there has been an increase in drilling private water supply boreholes, including in urban areas, which is leading to concerns about local over-abstraction. The government is actively working to improve water management through improving regulation, understanding and management of the resource.
Groundwater storage in Africa is extensive, and acts as a natural buffer against climate variability. However, the quantities that can be abstracted are unevenly distributed, and yields vary. The lack of understanding of groundwater resources in much of Africa undermines its potential to contribute to poverty reduction and economic development, and threatens its environmental sustainability.
Many studies across the globe indicates that water is a finite resource and vulnerable to human intervention. This is to say rapid population growth and intensification in the competing uses of water for economic growth is creating pressure on the water resources.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the quantity of water required for human consumption and other usage per individual ranges from 140 to 200 litres for adults and 50 litres for children per day. Industrial production use about twice the water required for household use for mineral extraction, processing and cooling. Population growth, urbanization and industrial development ultimately increase the existing water demand and other goods and services and this may have negative impact on the water availability in the country in the near future. This shows that in Zambia, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, mining, and energy sectors are underpinned by a dependence on water resources. As depicted, there are three distinct lenses through which water is critical in Zambia.
The first is for the entire economy. As a
natural resource-based economy, Zambia is wholly dependent upon water resources for its economic growth.
Secondly, water is critical for livelihoods in Zambia. This is true not only for smallholder agriculture, but also for the ecosystem goods and services that are provided to the 60% of people in Zambia that live in rural areas. The same is true for the urban areas, and therefore, the third area where water underpins the economy and society of Zambia is through cities.
Water in cities is at risk due to the high population growth rate, climate impacts on urban environments, inadequate spatial planning, as well as poor pricing of water to support infrastructure maintenance and capital investments.
These inter-linkages and dependences represent an economy that is reliant on water, and a foreign exchange that is dependent upon produce that is not possible without water. For instance, approximately 77% of all exports from Zambia are through copper.
According to Zambia Economical Brief by World Bank, Copper mining in Zambia is not possible without the electricity generated through hydropower. Therefore, even the mining industry is reliant upon virtual water through hydropower. Locally, food production to feed the nation is obviously dependent upon water. This is of critical importance both in the rural areas, as well as in the cities of Zambia. This is the water-energy-food nexus currently under active discussion.
In Zambia, the water sector is divided into two subsectors, namely Water Supply and Sanitation and Water Resources Management and Development. As the leader in the sector, Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (MWDSEP) is responsible for:-
(a) Water resource development through the Department of
Water Resources Development, formerly known as the
Department of Water Affairs;
(b) Water resource management which includes regulation,
allocation and use of water through the Water Resource
Management Authority (WARMA); and
(c) Regulation of water supply and sanitation services
through the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council
(NWASCO).
But the ministry prioritizes the supply of water for domestic purposes. However, it is important to note that the Ministry
of Local Government and Housing is responsible for the
actual supply of the resource through the local authorities
which, in turn, have established commercial utility
companies.
MWDSEP, through NWASCO, oversees the operations of the commercial utility companies in terms of access to water for domestic use from both ground and
surface water.
NWASCO was established under the Water
Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997 to regulate the
provision of water supply and sanitation services for
efficiency and sustainability. It also has the mandate of
informing the public on the performance of the sector. Currently, it regulates eleven water commercial utilities and six private schemes across the country.
Water resources challenges are further compounded by an inadequate capacity to regulate and police water resources. Following the enactment of the Water Resources Management Act No 21 of 2011, and the subsequent establishment of the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), the regulation of water resources in the country is now well defined, and incorporates critical aspects such as groundwater and boreholes (which were not regulated under the repealed 1949 Water Act).
However, findings of this research shows that Zambia’s water security is under threat with most of the rivers and dams drying up.
And due to climate change and other factors, many parts of the country have already experienced incidences of drying dams, broken river flows and reduced ground water recharge and dry taps.
Even though borehole drilling companies provides an economic benefit for the country, the rate at which they are increasing is worrisome.
Worse more, local authorities give out plots to people before water, sanitation and road facilities are provided. Places like Mitengo, Jacaranda Villa, Lubuto Kopalande, Hilcrest extension, Ndeke extension in Ndola; Riverside extension, Ndeke in Kitwe; Kamwala and Libala South in Lusaka to mention just a few. As a result people are forced to use their initiative by drilling boreholes. This is despite the Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997 placing a demand on water supply and sanitation providers to ensure efficient, affordable and sustainable services within service areas.
But is Zambia the only country with a significant increase in drilled water wells, or boreholes? UNICEF records that over the past two decades, Africa has witnessed a significant increase in drilled water wells, or boreholes. These are financed by development programmes as well as investments by water users and local businesses. Not only do boreholes supply handpump water, but they also play a substantial role in small as well as larger piped water supplies. Use of groundwater by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is on the rise; use of groundwater for irrigation in Africa is expected to grow significantly.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, champions the “achievement of universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030”.
Serving everyone is a momentous shift from the Millennium Development Goal target, particularly for rural and peri-urban Africa, where access to safe and affordable drinking water is particularly low.
Against this background, in March, the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection launched three statutory Instruments on groundwater and boreholes, Licensing of drillers and the revised raw water fees and charges.
Minister of Water Development Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Dennis Wanchinga indicated that the Statutory Instruments will ensure the regulation of drilling and adherence to laid down standards pertaining to utilization of water sources.
According to Zambia National Information Services (ZANIS), Dr. Wanchinga states that the SI on raw water prices is meant to ensure that the ministry provides
efficient and effective management of water resources across all sectors.
He says the process of arriving at the new water tariffs and charges underwent wide stakeholder consultations with farmers, industries and the mining companies.
Dr. Wanchinga explains that the Statutory Instruments launched recognized fundamentals such as the identification of underground water as a public good being
confined to surface water.
He also states that the quality of water will be improved as the boreholes drilled will have value placed on them as it is a commodity.
Dr. Wanchinga adds that the move will bring on board the need to license drillers as there has been public outcry on the lack of proper supervision among the drillers.
He points that the issuance of the regulations marked a milestone in government’s resolve to achieve maximum benefits through efficient and effective utilization of water resources.
Dr. Wanchinga further appealed to the business community for maximum cooperation in adherence to the standards set out in the Statutory Instruments in order for the country to accelerate the attainment of the country’s vision 2030 of
ensuring 100 percent access to water.
And speaking at the same event, Drillers Association of Zambia Board Secretary Christopher Chilongo said the Statutory Instruments will bring sanity to the way drilling of boreholes is being undertaken in the country.
Mr. Chilongo stated that the move will contribute in promoting professionalism among drillers hence, bringing value to the coordination of the entire process.
However, the introduction of charges and fees on boreholes has sparked mixed reactions among water consumers in the country.
People's concern is that it is the responsibility of government to provide access to safe and clean water to its citizens but if the government fails to meet its mandate, there is no point in taxing or charging a consumer if they dig a borehole using their resources.
And responding to this concern, an official from Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection says the Water Resources Management Fees and Charges Regulation, 2018
should be quoted in unit fees and not in Zambia kwacha.
WARMA Director of Water Resources and Information, Mr Oscar Silembo explains that 833.33 which residents with boreholes would be required to pay was in unit fees and not in kwacha, a unit fee being 30 ngwee or K0.30.
He explains that the unit fees, once multiplied by 30 ngwee, translated into K250.00.
“The Water Resources Management (Fees and Charges) Regulation, 2018 (Statutory Instrument No.18 of 2018) gives values like the stated 833.33 in fee units and not in ZMW or Kwacha. One fee unit = 30 Ngwee or K0.30. So the fee units have to be multiplied by 30 Ngwee to get the
money value which in this case is K250.00,” Mr Silembo states.
He further explains that the registration fee was all the owners needed to pay as long as the borehole was for domestic and non-commercial use.
Mr Silembo states that the payment was one off for recovery of administrative costs
and 'there is no monthly or annual fees for the stated category of water users'.
The regulation has further exempted domestic use of up to 10,000 litres of water per day per household.
“There are no monthly or annual fees for the above category of water users. For commercial uses, applicable fees apply just like for surface water usage,” Mr Silembo says.
Meanwhile, the Water Resources Management Act in section 10 says that all boreholes must be registered within six months of coming into effect on February 16. This Indicates that everyone has up to August 16 to pay 833.33 unit fees to register their old borehole or be fined up to 100,000 penalty points or imprisonment up to 12 months or both.
The authority also clarifies the fee one is required to pay when they dig the borehole with their own money.
“K250, is for onsite verification when inspectors come to collect info about your borehole. This info is kept in our database which will generate a number for your BH and sticker or plate given to you. This info or data is used when someone else within your vicinity wants to drill another BH for us to determine whether to give go ahead or not. Water quality testing and monitoring is another issue we also consider for your BH. Hope that suffices,” WARMA states.
WARMA further states that there is a very big difference between a tax, a fee and a charge.
“The K250 requested is not a tax but a once-off fee. Tax is a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the Government on worker's income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services and transactions. Fee is a payment made to a professional person or to a professional or a public body in exchange for advice or services; like we will be able to give to you and a Charge is a demand as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied,” the authority states.
As such, without doubt, groundwater supplies, and boreholes in particular, have a tremendous role to play in reaching the SDG target for drinking water. Groundwater is also likely to be increasingly used for food production. More use of groundwater for agriculture will raise abstraction while the application of fertilizers and pesticides is likely to affect its quality. Effective groundwater monitoring and management are thus essential to ensure that long term domestic and agricultural demands can be met without depleting or damaging the resource.
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About the Author:
Winston Muleba Junior is a Researcher, Citizen Journalist, Blogger, Scientist, Writer and Disaster Management Practitioner who uses media and ICT to promote science, technology and innovation. He gravitates towards environment: water, aquaculture, land, climate change and agriculture as he is skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and expert opinion with the everyday lives and struggles of people on the ground.
Email: mwenyamuleba@gmail.com
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