Water, Work, and Will: How a Partnership is Transforming Lives in Luapula, Zambia

Challenges in Luapula Province

• 💧 Residents in the peripherals of Luapula town faced significant challenges accessing clean and safe drinking water, often walking up to 5 kilometers.
• ⚠️ Water accessed from unreliable sources led to stomach aches and diseases due to its unsafe quality.
• ⏳ For students, the time spent fetching water detracted from study time, and water supplies could run out before the day ended.
• 🗺️ The Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company's mandate to serve 12 districts was limited, currently only operating in five.

Partnership Interventions and Improvements

• 🤝 A peer partnership, supported by the EU-funded Water Operators’ Partnerships Programme (WOPs), facilitated co-creation between local and German utilities.
• 🏘️ Through this partnership, supply was extended to previously unserved areas like Mato village, providing them with clean running water.
• 📈 In Decently Kawwa, drought reduced water production to 600 m³, but interventions like rehabilitating transmission mains and constructing new wells increased production to 5,500 m³.
• ⚡ This significant increase in production ensures customers now receive water 24/7.

Impact on Health and Operations

• ✅ There has been a good reduction in waterborne diseases, with very few cases of diarrhea deaths reported after data review meetings.
• 💡 The partnership has improved operational efficiencies, mentality, and maintenance practices within the water utility.
• biogas production from the plant is being utilized, providing a privilege of using gas to a connected customer.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

• 🌍 The collaborative efforts are directly contributing to SDG number six: access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
• ✨ The partnership demonstrates how solidarity and collaboration can deliver lasting improvements in water and sanitation services.