A Model for sustainable potable water provision in local government : A case study of Norton Town Council in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Urban population is growing worldwide and most especially in developing states and the demand for water is increasing surpassing the capacity of urban councils to supply. Access to water is a fundamental human right and as such should be available to all. The local government has initiated a number of strategies aimed at balancing water demand and supply capacity but no solid solutions have been implemented. Potable water provision in the Norton Town Council has proven to be erratic and unsustainable depriving the residents of their rights. Several limitations have resulted in the Council to fail drastically in supplying potable water as mandated by the government. The study adopted a pragmatic research paradigm through the utilisation of both the quantitative as well as qualitative research approaches. The researcher used questionnaires and key informant interviews to collect primary data. The findings of the study showed that population growth and changing consumption patterns are the major challenges leading to increased demand against dwindling supply. The deteriorating supply capacity is due to several reasons such as financial constraints, poor management systems, political interference and absolute infrastructure system. The findings also suggested that the population is further increasing and as such, the challenges mentioned needs to be addressed to boost the potable water supply infrastructure system. The challenges can be addressed through effective management of the physical infrastructure system, capacity development, improved financial capacity, responsive regulatory environment and efficient institutional governance system. Based on the findings, the study proposes a sustainable potable water provision model for the Norton Town Council which aims to strike a balance between potable water demand and supply as well as financial resources towards a more effective and efficient water supply system.