Water for the Masses: An Analysis Urban Water Distribution Methods in Sub-Saharan Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 33% of urban residents received water piped into their homes by their city’s central water utility11. The remaining 67% of urban residents rely on small-scale or informal water providers to meet their water needs. This study seeks to understand NGOs’ perceptions of the relationship between small-scale or informal water providers and their customers as well as the role of regulation in this relationship through a series of surveys. This document evaluates these perceptions based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the survey results. The findings indicate that NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa generally hold a negative view of the quality and pricing of water provided by small-scale and informal water providers. However, they understand that these providers are a vital part of their city’s water distribution ecosystem. Additionally, although regulation is not universally effective, NGOs generally believe that the government should play a role in regulating the operations of small-scale and informal water providers in their cities.