Operation strategy for water supply service delivery in Lusaka’s uprising residential areas. a case study of Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company.

Abstract

Access to safe and affordable drinking water is a basic need for every human being. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company’s (LWSC) Operations Strategies in its endeavor to provide safe and affordable water services in Lusaka’s uprising residential areas. The research employed a non-intervention research design. The main primary data collection instruments used was structured questionnaires and structured interviews. 30 household questionnaires were administered to households in Libala, Chalala and Chelstone Obama residential areas respectively. Two water samples were collected randomly from each location and tested for quality. Borehole water from Chalala and Chelstone Obama was found to be contaminated with total and feacal coliform bacteria while the piped water in Libala was found to be compliant to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. These finding were in line with previous water assessment studies that were done in similar locations less than two years ago. The average total cost for drilling and installing a borehole was K17, 351 with the reported minimum cost at K5000 and maximum at K75, 000. Majority of the respondents also reported that a decentralized water supply system was an innovative idea. The residents in Libala who already had piped water from LWSC were generally satisfied with the water services being rendered but had concerns over the high water tariffs, the late response to water problems and the elevated levels of chlorine in the water. From the overall findings obtained, the main operational core competency identified was the quality of the product (water). As a result; for LWSC to easily connect the uprising residential areas of Lusaka to its main existing system, it was recommended that LWSC formulates a well-documented Operations Strategy that will focus on the cost of the service and time of service delivery. These can be achieved through a well thought out and implementable Capacity Strategy and Asset Management. Key words: Operations Strategy, Capacity Strategy, Asset Management, Core-competency, Focus, Cost, Quality, Time