Description

Water supplies and sewage systems are a key instrument in promoting the ability of rural areas to develop and integrate by Increasing agricultural production and productivity all year round independently of weather conditions and promoting the settlement of food companies in decentralised locations, hence promoting employment. They are not only significant for the farms themselves but also for providing households, crops and livestock with (hygienic drinking) water and processing companies with industrial water. Drainage and wastewater pipes do also combat salinisation, pollution and contamination (environmental and consumer protection).

Requirements

• A properly functioning country-wide administration and monitoring system with access to the relevant information and sufficient technical and human capacities for its design, implementation and monitoring
• Clarification of responsibility for maintenance work
• Clear and coherent political strategy and targets for policy-makers and public authorities
• Inclusion of municipalities
• Open-access to all farms, regardless of size and location
• Legal certainty
• Participation of all stakeholders involved, e. g. science / research, agricultural advisory services, civil society, public and private sector (incl. farmers and their interest groups)
• Property / land register / formal land rights
• Secure financing both for investment and maintenance
• Regulatory framework
• Skilled / specialised personnel to man the respective institutions / provide the respective services

Possible Negative Effects

• Overuse of water resources
• Salinisation of soils
• Conflicting water abstraction arrangements
• Management and maintenance errors with far-reaching consequences such as pollution and contamination of systems and springs along the supply network