CHALLENGES FOR URBAN WATER SUPPLY: THE CASE OF MASVINGO MUNICIPALITY IN ZIMBABWE

Abstract

The problem of water scarcity in urban areas of developing countries is a major concern. The daily water supply rate in the developing countries is very low compared to the industrially developed countries. The objective of this paper was to determine the main challenges for urban water supply in Masvingo city in Zimbabwe and give policy recommendations on how these challenges can be addressed to improve water delivery services in the city. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on water challenges from municipality workers. The study identified population growth, poor infrastructure, economic challenges and climate change as the major challenges affecting efficient water delivery in Masvingo city.