ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER POINTS IN RURAL AREAS

Sustainability refers to the maintained functionality of water facilities through the operation and maintenance of the system at all times. The United adopted sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a universal call to action for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity (United Nations, 2021).
The sixth goal of SDG emphasizes clean water and sanitation for all people.The sustainability of water points is the problem affecting water supply in the rural parts of Malawi. The objective of this study was the assessment of the sustainability of water points in rural area of Malawi. The study was done examining the functionality of water points, evaluating the community management systems of the water points, nature of the water points and determining the level of community participation during the establishment of waterpoints. The study was carried out in Dwangwa area which is in Nkhotakota district specificall in Mulala, Maliwa and Kapala. People are scrambling for very few remaining functional boreholes and hand pump to access clean water. Despite the alarming problem of , no study has been done in the area to find out the solution to quench the situation. The data were collected by use of questionnaires, field observation and focus group discussion. The finding showed that 56% of waterpoints were partially functional in the area and this was due to wear and tear.It was observed that nature of waterpoint contributed to sustainability of the facility regardless of the proper management systems and this was based on its the materials and design of the facility. The use of waterpoints committees as management system was the effective way which highly promoted sustainability of water facilities. waterpoints with a well structured and organized committees were properly functional and where the non-functional did not have waterpoints. There was an inverse relationship between the involvement of local people and the quality and sustainability of the water points. The waterpoints which the locals were involved in establishment were in better condition unlike those which did not participate in construction.