Rehabilitation works in Gabba Water Works that will deliver 50 million liters of water per day to Kampala Water Supply Area.

1. Preamble

NWSC Management would like to inform its esteemed customers that, during the period January to March, we normally experience severe dry spell that affects the corporation’s capacity to deliver water supply to all its customers, all the time, consistently.

The situation is not helped by increased demand for water resulting from increased consumption patterns during the same period.

We are aware of this and the Corporation has been carrying out vigorous interventions to increase water production capacities in all its operational Areas, mainly using internally generated funds.

NWSC has a Strategic Direction (SD) 2013/18 that emphasizes “Water for all, for a delighted customer, by a delighted work force”. The key Strategic Priority Areas (SPAs) of the SD are, among others:

a) Geographical/operational expansion (operational coverage has increased from 23 towns in June 2013 to 138 towns in December 2015)

b) Massive network expansion (rate of expansion has been increased from 80Km/yr in 2013 to 1448Km/yr in 2015)

c) Water supply stabilisation in all areas

d) Improved water quality management and monitoring

e) Large project interventions, especially in Kampala Water Supply Area

2. Water supply interventions for Kampala Water Supply Area

For Kampala City, we have undertaken significant supply augmentation measures using a mixture of donor and internally generated funds. These interventions which will boost water supply are slated to be commissioned in February 2016.

These interventions in Kampala will add 50-60 million litres/day of water to the existing 190 million litres/day installed capacity for Kampala City. This will total to 240-250million litres/day supply capacity sufficient to meet the current demand. The following are the interventions;

i. Short term measures to meet demand

a) 50 million litres additional supply through rehabilitation/expansion works at Gaba and construction of 8 million litre-tank at Namasuba hill – This will be commissioned in February 2016

b) Construction of Namasuba - Lubowa/ Lweza and Namasuba – Mutundwe Nalumunye -Kyengera sub mains -

This will be commissioned in February 2016

c) Supply improvement to Naguru tank that will supply add approximately 6 million liters a day of water from low level system at Centenary Park - This is slated to be commissioned in February 2016

d) Construction of a one million litre tank at Kanyanya to stabilise supply along Gayaza -Kasangati area – This will be commissioned in February 2016.

e) Localised network rationalisation activities as need arises to ensure some water for all.

f) Installation of pump boosting facilities where technically feasible.

ii. Medium to long term measures to meet demand

In the next 3-4 years, we shall add more 120 million litres/day of water through construction of new treatment plant at Katosi on L. Victoria plus associated water transmission and distribution systems using a combination of Government and donor funds. A combined capacity of 370 million litres per day will cater for Kampala City needs for at least next 15 years.

3. Countrywide Infrastructure Service Delivery Plans (ISDPs)

Whereas NWSC is committed to 100% service coverage, about 25% of the urban population does not have easy access to piped water. To achieve the goal of accelerated water and sewerage service delivery in urban centres, NWSC launched the ambitious Infrastructure Service Delivery Plans (ISDPs) and Water Supply Stabilisation Programs (WSSP) in January 2014 in all the NWSC towns;

a) The first phase of the program (January – June 2014) saw the corporation extend 470Kms of water mains across all its operational areas. The second phase July to June 2015 saw NWSC expand 1448Kms of water mains countrywide. From July-December 2015, a total of 350Kms has been implemented. This is transformationalconsidering that the Corporation use to lay an average of 80kms per year. Consequently, since the inception of the ISDPs in 2014, cumulative pipe mains of over 2,268 kms have been extended as at December 2015. The extensions made under the ISDP account for an increase of 35% of the total water mains (now standing at 8,750Kms).

b) As a result of the pipelines laid, significant progress has been made in ensuring supply reliability and accessibility. Areas previously devoid of services now have piped water services, while a number of dry zones (no water areas) have now been converted to wet zones.

c) Under the Water Supply Stabilisation programme (WSSP), a number of quick win investments such as; installation of booster pumps, water reservoir tanks, borehole drilling, and installation of standby generators, among others were under taken during the FY 2014/15 and continues to be done in the current Financial Year. This has and will continue to enhance water supply capacity, stability and reliability especially in the new towns.

d) Every single town served by NWSC has detailed pipe network extension and water supply stabilisation plans. These were recently published in all major print publications. The plans for 2015/16 are already being implemented and discussions are going on for 2016/17. By 2018 all NWSC towns will have 90% service coverage as the corporation moves towards 100% service coverage.

4. Water tariffs

The NWSC water charges remain among the lowest for Water Utilities in the world that manage sustainable operations. NWSC rates are 5 times lower compared to those in developed countries. The Board and Management have deliberately kept the prices at levels that guarantee affordability across different customer categories and also keep the capacity of the corporation to expand services to those without, in a consistent and equitable manner;

a) For example, the average price of a 20 litre jerrycan of water is 37/= on a public stand pipe for the low-income communities. That means foregoing one half litre bottle of beer of 3000/= gets you about 81 jerrycans of water or 1621 litres of water. One kilogram of beef of 10,000/= would get you 270 jerrycans of water or 5405 litres of water. Using these comparators it is clear that water is not expensive.

b) It is worth noting that the charge on water is only for treating it using chemicals, pumping it using electricity and distributing it to the customer through pipes. The average rates for domestic and commercial premises are 57/= and 70/= per 20 litre jerrycan respectively, all including VAT and service fee.

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MANAGEMENT

NATIONAL WATER AND SEWERAGE CORPORATION

Preparedness for the Dry Spell January - March 2016