Evaluating waterpoint sustainability and access implications of revenue collection approaches in rural Kenya

Foster, T; Hope, R

Evaluating waterpoint sustainability and access implications of revenue collection approaches in rural Kenya

Foster, T

Hope, R

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Water Resources Research, 2017, 53 (2), pp. 1473 - 1490
Issue Date:: 2017-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Foster, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-3450	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hope, R	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-12-25	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-02-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Water Resources Research, 2017, 53 (2), pp. 1473 - 1490	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0043-1397	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/127085
dc.description.abstract	© 2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Water policies in many sub-Saharan African countries stipulate that rural communities are responsible for self-financing their waterpoint's operation and maintenance. In the absence of policy consensus or evidence on optimal payment models, rural communities adopt a diversity of approaches to revenue collection. This study empirically assesses waterpoint sustainability and access outcomes associated with different revenue collection approaches on the south coast of Kenya. The analysis draws on a unique data set comprising financial records spanning 27 years and 100 communities, operational performance indicators for 200 waterpoints, and water source choices for more than 2000 households. Results suggest communities collecting pay-as-you-fetch fees on a volumetric basis generate higher levels of revenue and experience better operational performance than communities charging flat fees. In both cases, financial flows mirror seasonal rainfall peaks and troughs. These outcomes are tempered by evidence that households are more likely to opt for an unimproved drinking water source when a pay-as-you-fetch system is in place. The findings illuminate a possible tension between financial sustainability and universal access. If the Sustainable Development Goal of “safe water for all” is to become a reality, policymakers and practitioners will need to address this issue and ensure rural water services are both sustainable and inclusive.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Water Resources Research	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/2016WR019634	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Engineering	en_US
dc.title	Evaluating waterpoint sustainability and access implications of revenue collection approaches in rural Kenya	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	53	en_US
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	0907 Environmental Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	1402 Applied Economics	en_US
utslib.for	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	53	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Water policies in many sub-Saharan African countries stipulate that rural communities are responsible for self-financing their waterpoint's operation and maintenance. In the absence of policy consensus or evidence on optimal payment models, rural communities adopt a diversity of approaches to revenue collection. This study empirically assesses waterpoint sustainability and access outcomes associated with different revenue collection approaches on the south coast of Kenya. The analysis draws on a unique data set comprising financial records spanning 27 years and 100 communities, operational performance indicators for 200 waterpoints, and water source choices for more than 2000 households. Results suggest communities collecting pay-as-you-fetch fees on a volumetric basis generate higher levels of revenue and experience better operational performance than communities charging flat fees. In both cases, financial flows mirror seasonal rainfall peaks and troughs. These outcomes are tempered by evidence that households are more likely to opt for an unimproved drinking water source when a pay-as-you-fetch system is in place. The findings illuminate a possible tension between financial sustainability and universal access. If the Sustainable Development Goal of “safe water for all” is to become a reality, policymakers and practitioners will need to address this issue and ensure rural water services are both sustainable and inclusive.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/127085