Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supply
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822 INKE95 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES OF KERALA WATER AUTHORITY: A STUDY ON THE NON~TECHNICALAND MANAGERIAL ASPECTS OF EDAPPAL,MALA AND CHOONDAL SCHEMES A study commissioned by the Operation and Maintenance Improvement Programme (OMIP) (A Programme supported by the Danish and Dutch Governments) p 1995 INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT THIRUVANANTHAPU~~- 695 033 822—95—137 19 Preface This report is the outcome of a consultancy assignment commissioned by the Operation and Maintenance improvement Programme (OMIP), supported by the Danish and Dutch Governments. The study focussed on the financial and managerial aspects of the three rural Water Supply Schemes of Edappal, Mala and Choondal. An attempt has been made to analyse the existing situation and suggest measures for improving efficiency and sustainability of these schemes through people’s participation. We are thankful to the OMIP for giving us this opportunity. Many individuals have extended their support and assistance in the execution of this study. We are thankful to them all. Mr. Mogens Mechta, the Team Leader and Mr. KM Namboodiry, Senior Consultant, OMIP have been patient enough to give us the right direction and support on various stages. We are indeed grateful to them. Mr. RVA Thampuran, Hon. Consultant and Mr. RR Varma, Programme Manager, OMIP made themselves available for several rounds of discussions. We thank them both. Mr J. Gussenhoven the Dutch Consultant has gone through an earlier draft and made several useful suggestions. We are extremely thankful to him. We received valuable assistance from the SEU Regional Officesa at Trichur and Kozhikkode. We are particularly thankful to Mr.Abdulla, and Ms.Thresyamma of SEU, Trichur and Ms. Rema Dcvi, of SEU, Kozhikode. The KWA Officials at Sub-Divisional, Divisional, and Head Office level were extremely co-operative and helpful to us. We thank them all. Dr.Balachandra Kurup, the Executive Co-ordinator, SEU has shown keen interest in the study and extended all possible support to us. We are thankful to him for that. ~astly, we acknowledge our sincere thanks to the Standpost Attendents, Members of Ward Water Committees, Panchayat Presidents and Members, for sparing their time with us to provide the necessary information during our field work. ~ ~RE~’CE October, 1995 - Dr S Radhakrishna Pilla~ Trivandrum. Dr. TA Menon ~ ~ ~1 ~ . ~ (~7J~~3~19 ~LO S ‘I I, CONTENTS PREFACE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART I CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1.1 Objectives 1.2 Terms of Reference 1.3 Methodology 1.4 Organization of Report CHAPTER II KERALA WATER AUTHORITY FINANCIAL STATUS 2.1 Background 2.2 Financial Status 2.2.1. Income 2.2.2. Revenue Collection Practices 2.2.3. Expenditure/Cost 2.2.4. Comparison of Income and Cost 2.3 Cost per unit of Water 2.4 Issues and Suggestions CHAPTER 111 TARIFF STRUCTURE, BILLING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES OF KERALA WATER AUTHORITY * 3.1 Existing practice 3.1.1. Provisional Invoice Card System 3.2 Tariff Stucture 3.2.1 Tariff for public taps 3.3 Problems related to Tariff and billing practices 3.4 Suggestions CHAPTER IV KERALA WATE AUTHORiTY AND THE O&M ARRANGEMENTS 4.1 Organisational Arrangement of KWA 4.2 O&M Arrangements 4.3 Problems Related with 0 & M Arrangements 4.4 Suggestions PART 11 CHAPTER V INDIVIDUAL RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES 5.1 Rural Water supply scheme - Edappal 5.1.1. Background 5.1.2. Cost of Construction 5.1.3. O&MCost 5.1.4. Water Supply 5.1.5. Demand for Water 5.1.6. Income from Water 5.1.7. Comparison of cost and Income 5.1.8 0 & M Cost and Income per unit volume of water 5.1.9 Financial viability of the scheme 5.1.10.0 & M Arrangements 5.2 Rural Water supply scheme - Mala 5.2.1. Background 5.2.2. Cost of Construction 5.2.3. 0&MCost 5.2.4. Wter Supply 5.2.5. Demand for Water 5.2.6. Income from Wate 5.2.7. Comparison of cost and Income 5.2.8 0 & M Cost and Income per unit volume of water 5.2.9 Financial viability of the scheme 5.2. 10.0 & M Arrangements 5.3 Rural Water Supply Scheme - Choondal 5.3 1. Background 5.3.2. Cost of Construction 5.3.3. 0&MCost 5.3.4. Quantity of Water produced and the income 5.3.5. Comparison of Income and Cost 5.3.6. 0 & M Cost per unit volume of water 5.3.7. Financial Viability of the Scheme 5.3.8 0 & M Arrangement 5.4 Comparison of Schemes in terms of cost and income CHAPTER VI SEU AND THE STRUCTURES CREATED FOR RURAL WTER SUPLY SCHEMES OF EDAPPAL AND MALA 6. 1 SEU Approach 6.2. SEU Structures 6.2.1 Stand post Attendants A ~ ~ I 6.2.2. Ward Water committees 6.2.3. Panchayat Water Committees 6.3. SEU Structures - Patterns of Interaction 6.4. SEU Structures - functioning and problems 6.4.1. SPA Functioning, Problems and Suggestions 6.4.1.a. Tasks performed 6.4.1.b. SPA and WWC 6.4.1.c. SPA and SEU 6.4.1.d. SPA and KWA 6.4.1.e. SPA and other stand post users 6.4.1.f. ProbleMs faced by SPAs. 6.4.2. WWCs - functioning, problems and suggestions 6.4.2.a. Tasks perfomed 6.4.2.b. WWC and Panchayat 6.4.2.c. WWC and KWA 6.4.2.d. Problems faced WWCs 6.4.3. PWCs - functioning, problems and suggestions CHAPTER VII PANCIIAYAT AND RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES 7.1. Panchayat and its involvement in Water supply schemes 7.2. Panchayat and KWA 7.2.1. Drinking Water Situation in Panchayats 7.2.2. Linkages with KWA CHAPTER VIII WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY OF CONBSUMERS TO PAY FOR WATER 8.1 Present Arrangement 8.2 Willingness to pay - responses from SPAs 8.3. Collection of Water charges fom Public Tap users - responses from WWC 8.4. Collection of water charges - responses from Panchayat Presidents / Members 8.5. Cost sharing - issues in implementation 8.6. Mechanism for collection CHAPTER IX FAULT DETECTION, REPORTING AND FOLLOW-UP 9. 1. Present Arrangement 9.2. Opinion and suggestions from WWC, SEU amid Panchayat Presidents I Members 9.2.1. Opinion from WWC members 9.2.2. Opinion from Panchayat Presidents/Members 9.2.3. Opinion from SEU 9.2.4. Opinion from KWA 9.3 Suggestions CHAPTER X FUNCTIONALITY STUDY 10. 1. Background and Present Status 10.2. The Study and its use 10.3. Functionality study and KWA 10.4. Suggestions CHAPTER XI PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT OF RWSS. 11. 1. Kerala Panchayat Raj Act. Provisions related to Water supply 11.2. General Implications 11.3. Implications on SEU structures 11.4. Partnership Management of RWS chemes CHAPTER XII KWA AND SECTION LEVEL COMMITTEES CHAPTER XIII SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13. 1 Financial viability of Schemes in terms of Cost and Income 13.1.a. O&MCost 13.1 . 1 . a. Suggestions for Improvement 13.1.b. Low Revenue 13.1 .1.b. Suggestion for Improvement 13.2. Management of Rural Water Supply Schemes 13.3 Operational Issues of Water Supply Schemes 13.3.1. Cost Sharing 13.3.2. Fault Detection, Reporting and Follow-up 13.3.3. Functionality Study. ANNEXURES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 This summary presents the findings, conclusions, suggestions and recommendations of the consultancy work on the non-technical aspects of Operation and Maintenance Improvement Programme (OMIP) entrusted to the Institute of Management in Government Trivandrum. This assignment was completed during July-October, 1995. 1.2. Objectives The main objective of the consultancy was to develop propositions for partnership in management of rural water supply in the 0MW selected schemes viz. Mala, Edappal and Choondal. More specifically, the study aims to assess the existing 0 & M management systems of these rural water supply schemes, the SEU structures and their functioning and the possibilities of partnership management between KWA, local bodies and other people’s committees. The study also analyses the financial feasibility and the sustainability of schemes. 1.3. Orgaiiisatioii of (he rcport This report contains two parts. Part I under 4 sections explains the background of the study, the financial aspects of KWA, tariff structure, billing and collection practices ofKWA, and the 0 & M arrangements regarding RWS. Part II in 8 sections examines the three individual RWS schemes viz. Mala, Edappal and Choondal, a critical analysis of SEU and the structures created for RWS schemes, Panchayat and RWS schemes, assessment of willingness and ability of consumers to pay for water, fault detection, reporting and follow up, functionality study, Panchayat Raj System and management of RWS and suggestions and recommendations. I L4. M~hodology The study covered I e Rural Water Supply Schemes in Edappal, Mala and Choondal. 6 Panch yats in Mala and 5 Panchayats in Edappal were covered. Both primary and secondary data were collected. A sample of 11 Panchayat Presidents/Members, 33 members of Ward Water Committees, and 33 stand post Attendants were interviewed to elicit information on various aspects relating to the study. Besides, data were coHected from the two SEU Units at Trichur and Kozhikode. 2. FINANCIAL STATUS OF KWA 2. 1. 1. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is an autonomous body constituted by the Government of Kerala in 1984. It is the sole agency responsible for water supply in the state. 2.1.2. The KWA earns its income primarily from the sale of water. The different sources of income of KWA are: Water charges levied from domestic, non-domestic and industrial users; water charges collected from local bodies for water supplied through public taps; maintenance charge collected from local bodies; other income from investments, advances etc.