Technological developments in Zimbabwe's rural water supply and sanitation programme

Abstract

Zimbabwe has made great strides in providing improved water supplies and sanitation facilities (Government of Zimbabwe, 1998) throughout the rural areas of the country, and has earned an international reputation for its efforts. About half of Zimbabwe's rural population of nearly seven million have access to a "primary water supply" fitted with a hand pump. A further million have access to some form of standpipe fitted with a tap. A quarter million people take their water from about 35 000 family owned "upgraded" wells, with some 55 000 people taking water from springs. All these sources are relatively safe and impose a minimal health risk.



The Zimbabwe Science News Volume 33(1) January-March 1999, pp. 20-25