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Approaches to Potable Water in Yemen
In Yemen, where only 17% of the rural population has access to safe drinking water, IFAD was involved in three projects (013-YA, 046-YA, 156-YA) which promoted domestic water supplies. While the projects water improvement activities have had considerable success and, as an additional benefit, have facilitated the implementation of other project components, rural water supply schemes face difficulties with declining watertable levels, deteriorating water quality, inadequate repairs and maintenance together, in instances, with traditional water rights limiting the access of project beneficiaries to potential water services.
The Yemen CPE (0386-YE) found that 49% of constructed wells were not operating in one project (013-YA) and in another 26% had either dried up or were not meeting the basic needs of the beneficiaries. Fees charged for water (fixed rates on an adhoc basis) did not adequately cover maintenance and operating costs. Difficulties with spare parts, severe shortages of trained maintenance staff and/or insufficient backstopping from authorities were encountered as well.
While enthusiasm for improvements to domestic water supplies have given publicity to projects and facilitated the implementation of other components, water supply schemes are very vulnerable to competition from irrigation for scarce water resources. Thus, future interventions should strongly urge authorities to give priority to domestic water use over irrigation. Social concerns including traditional water rights should receive full consideration as should the matters of beneficiary participation and well maintenance in the interests of sustainability.
- Regulations should be promulgated to create a priority system for access to drinking water, to create restricted zones in areas where aquifers are in depletion and to impose a minimum distance between wells to avoid competitive overlapping.
- In the development of water supply schemes, the "turn-key" concept should be replaced by a phased approach that allows for more time to negotiate design alternatives with local people in the interests of beneficiaries participation and, therefore, sustainability.
- The actual potential for developing new water supply schemes, especially in mountainous areas, should be assessed through in-depth social investigations in order to avoid social conflicts that may hamper the completion of the project.
- Operating costs, including payment for pump attendant, fuel and maintenance, should be entirely borne by beneficiary villagers through adequate water charges. Guidelines should be prepared for this purpose and training should be provided to water committees.
- Projects should give adequate attention to training maintenance staff and government authorities involved in water supply, so that adequate backstopping for potable water intervention is available.
References: 013-YA, 046-YA, 156-YA, Yemen Country Portfolio Evaluation, CPE92 CESYE92E IFAD 1992.
