Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting as an Alternative Domestic Water Resource in Zambia

Abstract

Within the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the man-agement of centralized water reticulation in Zambia. Characterized by diversi-fied fiscal resourcing, concurrent institutional restructuring and introduction of new players in water governance, the water sector is set to achieve im-proved reliability on sustainable grounds. However, the threat of underground water pollution resulting from increased urbanization besides the unreliable energy sector presents new challenges for the current urban water. In effect, urban areas are affected by chronic water rationing creating public stress and insecurity which impacts domestic development. While the course of devel-opment has meant investment in the extension and expansion of water infra-structure in Zambia, alternative urban water resources are being sought to address challenges of traditional water systems globally. This paper therefore attempts to make a case for the modernization of Rooftop Rainwater Har-vesting (RRWH) as an augmenting water resource in the Zambian urban housing sector. Here—in, it is identified as a Low Impact Development tech-nology within the Integrated Urban Water Management framework currently being forged by local water. Based on a desktop literature survey and online questionnaire survey, an argument to support the development of RRWH in Zambia was developed. While literature survey results revealed evidence of economic loss and a growing compromise to public health resulting from in-consistent water supply in the study area of Lusaka city, the online question-naire survey depicted significant domestic stress due to erratic water supply. Results confirmed that at one time residents observed an average of eight hours of power blackouts which effectively induced water disruption forcing homeowners to engage in various water storage methods which in turn are How to cite this paper: Malambo, T. and Huang, Q.H. (2016) Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting as an Alternative Domestic Water T. Malambo, Q. H. Huang 42 costly on domestic time, health and finances. A retrospective discussion based on both survey results attempts to present benefits and opportunities of urban RRWH to water sector stakeholders providing recommendations towards the mainstreaming of the practice in Zambia.