Water supply arrangements in developing countries: A case study of Blantyre City, Malawi

Abstract

The provision of potable water in the cities of developing countries has been of concern for a long time. Most of the urban population, especially in unplanned settlements, relies on small-scale informal service providers. The challenge with such an arrangement, however, is that it has been associated with high charges, provision of poor quality water, unreliable and intermittent water supply, and a general deterioration of water infrastructure. Based on the literature and data on the institutions, organizations and demographics of Malawi, this paper argues that privatization of water supply in developing countries may not work for all income groups. However, there are other modes of delivery which if formalized and institutionalized may extend the coverage to the low-income neighbourhoods in a transparent and inclusive manner, and may be offered at affordable rates e.g. State-Civil Society, State-Informal Sector and the State-Civil Society-Informal Sector partnerships. This paper also argues that national authorities in Malawi need to spearhead public policies that will effectively regulate the operations of water service providers.

Key words: water supply, unplanned settlements, institutions, privatization, developing countries.