In Senegal, securing clean
potable water is an impending issue, especially in rural areas. The
Japanese Government has provided grants
aid since the latter half of the 1970s for water supply, contributed
to the construction and repairs of the water supply facilities by
power, and has since then, over twenty years, played a significant
role in the construction, renovation, and maintenance of water-supply
managing offices. It has resulted in the creation of many water-supply
plants with power pumping system in 109 Senegalese villages-11% of
927 such plants in Senegal.
Now that the basic facilities for providing clean water have been
constructed, what is needed next is a set of guidelines necessary
for organizing local-level water management committees with the participation
of the citizens. The objectives of this type of committee include
the introduction of a pay-per-use water management system conducted
by local residents that is fair and transparent in operation and administration.
Also, as part of such water management system it is aimed to increase
and diversify water-related production and to improve median household
income.
Among the 109 villages in which water supply facilities were constructed,
22 villages are now observed as models for self-managing system. Two
villages among them have already achieved a high level of such management
and now aiming at highly potential system to diversify water-related
production and improve household income. In other words, efficient
water management will bring about the foundation for vegetable and
stock farming, which will then contribute toward eliminating poverty
on a local level and the development of the entire village as a result.
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Furthermore, the usage of clean
water has repercussions in the field of public health and related
educational matters such as gender issues: relieving women of the
labor of water delivery will enables them to play an active role in
the society and production. Throughout a long history of cooperation
and partnership, the vital tie between people and water will, by means
of municipal-level water management, lead into a new chapter of human
life in Senegal.
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