Tien Giang Province's small towns, deemed unserviceable by major water utilities, found a permanent solution to their big water problem in small piped water networks.
Published on: 19/12/2008
When Viet Nam's Tien Giang Province was selected as project site for piloting small piped water networks (SPWNs) [in 2005], it was on the premise that these small piped systems would provide a short-term, interim solution to the province's water problem. The more permanent solution-connections from the water company with its huge pipes-has long been overdue.
SPWPs, which are businesses owned by persons or small organizations, were able to get water to more than 2,500 people within three months.
Whether by fluke of circumstance or by incredible insight on the part of Viet Nam's legislation, Decree 117, which reconsidered water's status from a social good to a business commodity, was passed in August 2007 while the pilot projects were in progress. The decree opened up the entire sector to change-high and upfront connections were done away with, water connections were offered free or on flexible 12-month installment schemes to the extremely poor, and water tariffs were adjusted.
SPWNs were also environmentally beneficial, as they put an end to uncontrolled well-drilling that can lead to soil subsidence and groundwater table pollution.
In Viet Nam's case at least, SPWNs do not offer interim solutions-they are the permanent solution to bringing piped water connections to poor households and communities.
Source: Cezar Tigno, ADB, Dec 2008
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