Resilience of Water Supply in Practice: Experiences from the Frontline
Water Resilience in Practice is co-edited by two experienced water sector professionals and reviews resilience in water supply service delivery in the form of a series of case studies from different economic contexts – ranging from low-income and fragile states to upper-income countries. It documents real experiences and reflects on the initiatives different service providers apply to strengthen resilience in practice. It describes how service providers respond, adapt, innovate and learn on an ongoing basis, and how they endeavour to meet challenges and provide water supply to users equitably and sustainably.
In recent years climate resilience in water supply has been a new emerging paradigm. In response it is helpful to document and record some up-to-date experiences, which can be consolidated in one place. However, it is also necessary to recognise the multiple pressures that water resources face, such as: population growth, increased water demands, existing climatic variability as well as climate change. These pressures are having a profound impact on water supply service delivery. In this context service providers and development professionals must take active measures to respond to these risks.
This book is primarily addressed to organisations and practitioners involved in planning, designing, managing and financing water supply programmes in urban and rural settings.
ISBN: 9781789061611 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781789061628 (eBook)
ISBN: 9781789061635 (ePub)
Chapter 3: Transforming a water company to improve service levels and resilience: Lessons from Sierra Leone
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Published:December 2021
St John Day, Nitin Jain, Tom Menjor, Maada K Penge, 2021. "Transforming a water company to improve service levels and resilience: Lessons from Sierra Leone", Resilience of Water Supply in Practice: Experiences from the Frontline, Leslie Morris-Iveson, St John Day
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Abstract
All water companies need to be able to provide safe, adequate and reliable water supplies to their customers and consumers. Yet some work under very daunting conditions. The civil war in Sierra Leone resulted in the destruction of much water supply infrastructure. It also had a devastating impact on the performance of water companies. Since the war ended in 2002 other changes continue, such as: population growth, unplanned urbanisation, environmental destruction and climate change, plus the Ebola outbreak. These pressures all have a massive impact on the natural environment and on demands for water. It is against this background that Guma Valley Water Company is trying to rebuild water infrastructure and strengthen utility arrangements for providing a reliable and affordable service on which people depend. This article describes ongoing efforts to improve water supply in Freetown. The case study highlights the multi-faceted nature of resilience building and the processes that must be undertaken if water companies are to become resilient. Long-term technical and financial support is required, however, programmes should be realistic in their expectations.