Impact of Post-Construction Support on Impact of Post-Construction Support on

Drinking Water Supply Safety & Drinking Water Supply Safety & Sustainability Sustainability

~ El Salvador ~~ El Salvador ~

Georgia KayserGeorgia KayserWilliam Moomaw, Jeff Griffiths, Julie Schaffner, Beatrice RogersWilliam Moomaw, Jeff Griffiths, Julie Schaffner, Beatrice Rogers

The Fletcher School, Tufts UniversityThe Fletcher School, Tufts University

Root Causes: Aging water systems Intermittent service Insufficient technical, operational or financial

knowledge Compromised source water quality Disinfection not monitored/enforced

Failures in Improved Systems

1. Technical Assistance On-call assistance, monthly visit by technician,

water quality testing, operator training in disinfection

2. Financial Training Accounting, budgeting, transparency

3. Operational Management Village Water Committee responsibilities and

& importance of disinfection

4. Environmental Sustainability Protection of water source, encourage metering

Methodology Selection of Communities:

32 Control & 28 Intervention 120 Interviews in 60

Communities 252 Water Quality Tests

(E.coli: Colilert/3M) 126 Residual Chlorine Tests Key Informant Interviews

Collaborating Organizations1. ASSA – Asociacion Salvadoreña de Servicios de Agua 2. IRWA – International Rural Water Association

1. Water System Performance (Water Samples)

2. System Sustainability (Interviews) Technical Capacity Operational Management Financial Management Environmental Sustainability

Variable Control Circuit Rider

Private HH connection 91% 89%

Source water = ground water 56% 57%

Source water = spring 38% 32%

Pump used to access/distribute water 78% 82%

Average # HHs served 300 272

NGO constructed system 65% 75%

Average age of system 13 years 12 years

Distance from nearest paved road .68 km 1 km

Results: Water Contamination is More Common in Control

Communities

Statistically significant results, p < .05

TC = Total Choliform EC = E.coli

50%56%

75% 71%

96%

25%

82% 87%

Operators Trained in Disinfection

Negative Perception of Chlorine in Community

Presence of Village Water Committee

(VWC)

Women Participate in VWC

Control Circuit Rider

* = statistically significant p < .05

*

*

100%

31%

16%9%

100%

16%

39%32%

Monthly Water Fee % HH do not pay water bill

Transparency Meters

Control Circuit Rider

*

*

* = statistically significant p < .05

ñ

* *

The cost of ASSA is $50,000 US/year• Serve 51,000 households

Cost: < 1 USD/household per year.

ASSA employs 6 people• 3 Circuit Riders, a secretary/lab tech, a

marketing rep, and a director; The marketing rep and director perform Circuit Rider activities; Serves 170 communities of ~ 300 households/community

With the Circuit Rider Model

Less microbiologically contaminated water

Improved system sustainability

• better financial, operational, and technical outcomes

• enhanced community acceptance

Low cost/household served

The CRM could be adapted and replicated

TC = Total Choliform EC = E. coli

Research made possible by: National Institute of Health, United Nations Forum on Forests, Ticsh College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts

University The Fletcher School Ph.D. Program, Tufts University Water System Science and Society Program, Tufts

University, Tufts Institute for the Environment, Tufts University, Center for International Environment and Resource Policy,

Tufts International Rural Water Association, Asociación Salvadoreña de Servicios de Agua, and Participating communities in El Salvador

Thank You

Contact: georgia.kayser@tufts.edu