Sustainability in the pipeline: securing water and sanitation for the future Read moreThis wasn’t always the case. In 2000, just half of the population had access to piped water [pdf] and water shortages were the norm during the dry season. Despite challenging operating environments – water scarcity, galloping urbanisation, limited financial resources, legal constraints etc – these water companies also happen to be some of the best performing on the continent, with positive cash flows and low non-revenue water (water lost through leaks or theft). Common arguments are that low-income consumers don’t pay their bills and that there isn’t enough water to extend services to the poor. WSUP’s work with water services company Jirama in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for example, managed to increase the water supply to benefit 700,000 low-income customers.

Source: The Guardian October 04, 2016 09:32 UTC