Presented at the Triple-S Annual Review and Planning Meeting (ARAP), Fort Portal Uganda, 6th-11th May 2013

1. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …1
Adopting and
testing the
Sub county
Water and
Sanitation
Board model
to cover point
w ater sources
Omuhiigo in Nyamiseke – Sipatara Shallow well

2. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …2
Sub county Water and
Sanitation Board model
• A support mechanism at the sub county level responsible for
water services to all in an entire sub county
• Follows the concept of Water Supply and Sanitation Boards
(WSSBs) in urban authorities and rural growth centres, BUT
emphasizes the management of all water sources – piped
schemes, bore wells, springs
• Board composition; between 5 – 9 members including;
Community Development Officer, Sub county chief as secretary,
Representatives of scheme attendants, farmers, HPMs, water
user committees, parishes

3. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …3
Why the Boards?
 To professionalise management of water and sanitation services in a sub
county
‒ Contract service providers for preventive maintenance, repairs etc
‒ Execute/monitor contracts of service providers including their performance
‒ Educate and mobilise users
‒ Raise funds for O&M for all water sources
‒ Monitor functionality of water sources
‒ Determine the water fees and collection methods
‒ Provide an organised link between the sub county and the district water
office
‒ Improve accountability of water user fees
‒ Improve capacity of water user committees
‒ Provide a platform to address/raise WASH concerns and challenges in a sub
county including issues with spare parts

4. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …4
What is happening?
 Rolled out in 6 of 14 sub counties; Kichwamba, Buheesi, Mugusu,
Kasenda, Bukuuku, Busoro
 Documenting the roll out process and assembling evidence to
present to the Ministry
 Supporting DWO Kabarole to assess the Boards - needs and plans
for interventions
 Working with the Ministry’s Rural Water Department to include
the Boards in the framework for HPMAs (as structures for HPMAs)
 Developing a plan for sub county dialogues, how to deal with the
water user committees, how to link and work with umbrella
organisations and the water and sanitation boards already existing
 Finalising the study on Life Cycle Costs for cost analysis in
Kabarole

5. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …5
Key messages
The Sub county Water and Sanitation Boards will
 Strengthen the sub county local governments’
capacity to manage rural water and sanitation
facilities
 Help address functionality and O&M challenges
and concerns in a whole sub county
 Leverage economies of scale and improve
accountability of water user fees and other
funds

6. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …6
Ministry of Water
and Environment
HPMA
WUCs
NGOs
Roles of the Water Board
 Administrative management
 Financial management
Passing of by-laws
Water Technician
HPMs
District Water Office
Umbrella
Organisations
S/C Authority
S/C WSSB
CBOs
Caretakers
Community Level
Sub-county Level
Roles of the Water Technician
 Monitors O&M
Supervision of repairs
 Keeps records of functionality
District Level
Roles of the Association
 Carry out assessment
 Monitor functionality
 Carry out major repairs
 Regulator of HPMs
Technical
Support Units
Regional Level
Relationships between HPMA & partners (CG,
DLG, SWSB)