$4Billion needed by 2030 to improve water and sanitation sector-NWASCO

the national water supply and sanitation council says the total investment needed for the sector for 2011 to 2030 stands at 4 billion united states dollars in order to attain a universal coverage of water supply and 90 percent coverage of sanitation.

according to nwasco communications and public relations manager rose tembo, currently 75 million euros from the european investment bank meant for chingola, chililabombwe and mufulira, $63 million from african development bank meant for kitwe and kalulushi and $25 million from japanese international corporation agency meant for ndola has already been invested.

ms tembo says 11 million dollars from the germany bank kfw is meant for eastern province ,85 million dollars from danida is meant for kafubu, 355 million dollars from mcc is meant for lusaka and the rest from government funds has already been invested.

she says further at the current level of investment in the sector of about 2 percent of the national budget to the water sector, the country is only likely to have a metering ratio of 100percent after 2022.

ms tembo says by addressing non revenue water and ensuring universal metering, other efficiency gains will accrue to the commercial utilities such as increase in hours of water supply and may also result in extra funds that can be used on other demands.