Liberia Urban Water Supply Project (UWSP)

Under the parent project The project development objective (PDO) is to increase access to piped water supply services in the project area in Monrovia and improve the operational efficiency of LWSC. The objective of the project is to increase access to piped water supply services in the project are…See More

Objectives

Rehabilitation and extension of Monrovia piped water distribution system; b. Carrying out feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, supervision and associated rehabilitation works for the 36” main waterline transporting water from White Plains water treatment plan to the city of Monrovia; and c. Construction of a ground reservoir and connecting it to the existing water distribution network. i. Rehabilitation and extension of Monrovia piped water distribution system, inter alia express line to Newport Booster Station and restructuring of current eastern main transmission line section (US$5.1 million): The persistent restriction of water supply in central Monrovia is largely due to the outdated and damaged state of the main transmission line along Tubman Boulevard, in particular around the Monrovia Central Business District (Capitol Hill to Mamba Point areas). The AF will relieve this critical bottleneck and support the increase of water transmission to central Monrovia by supporting a parallel express line up to 7.2 km of transmission pipes with associated valves and chambers. This will also result in a head loss and leakage reduction and thus water savings enough to cover about 5,000 new connections and 25 public standpipes. In case supply through the primary pipeline is disrupted, the parallel line can take over supply temporarily creating redundancy. ii. Carrying out feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, supervision and associated rehabilitation works for the 36” main waterline transporting water from White Plains water treatment plan to the city of Monrovia (US$19.7 million). Due to the dilapidated state of the main pipeline regular bursts occur which leave Monrovia for a week at a time without water supply. The AF will replace part of the 36” main pipeline into Monrovia from White Plains water treatment plant. The replacement will include all works to cross roads and water ways along the current trajectory of the main pipeline and include all associated valves and chambers. It will provide regulated and controlled connections to communities along the main line. This will result in improved flow and pressure control of water supply to the communities and into Monrovia. iii. Construction of a ground reservoir and connecting it to the existing water distribution network (US$3.5 million): This will support the supply and construction of a 4,500 m3 ground reservoir and connection to the existing distribution network in the area. The reservoir will serve as a break pressure tank and flow regulator to ensure the constant supply and operational pressure in the service area to increase the supply service quality to 24 hours a day to about 70,625 people and allow connection to about 5,000 new customers and the construction of 25 public standpipes. In fact, a recent study identified the need to complement the current city reservoirs with a service reservoir in Paynesville to increase water supply access and reliability in Paynesville and Roberts Highway areas with rising water demand. As such, the AF prioritizes the construction of the Paynesville service reservoir with a capacity of 4,500 m3 including required connections to the nearby existing distribution network. AF under Component 2: Capacity building to the LWSC. The AF will strengthen LWSC’s capacity to sustain and expand its services (US$1.7 million) through the following activities: a. Operationalizing the district metered areas and providing staff training in a range of relevant areas including in nonrevenue water monitoring, all to reduce nonrevenue water losses and improve cost recovery. b. Reviewing, retaining and re-equipping LWSC connection teams including the nonrevenue water Unit staff through provision of training, equipment, including pipes and fittings and support to the project implementation unit (PIU), all for improved customer service in LWSC. c. Carrying out of public consultations, events and media placement to inform residents of the Project Area about the Project. d. Procurement of key operational equipment required for the Project, such as vehicles, excavators, IT equipment, digging tools, leak detection and repair equipment, spare parts and spare customer meters. e. Support to the Project Implementing Entity for Project management and implementation, including, but not limited to, financing of audits, consultants’ services, monitoring and evaluation, Training and Operating Costs. These measures are critical to ensure the sustainable operation and maintenance of the new infrastructure, especially given the now much higher NRW level. A focus will be on improving cost-recovery by supporting the operation of DMAs, NRW unit staff training and equipment, customer orientation, support to the PIU, as well as reduction of illegal consumption by either legalizing (additional meters) or removing connections. The latter will be done through customer survey, outreach and a public relations campaign. Staff will be trained in proper network management and grievance redress. Moreover, the AF will support appropriate warehouse management and furnishing of spare parts and operational tools (e.g. spare meters, pipes, repair equipment).

Deliverables

Project Implementation Unit will take co-responsibility, are: (a) At least 63,000 direct project beneficiaries (of which 44 percent female); (b) At least 48,500 people in urban areas of Monrovia provided with access to improved water sources under the project; (c) An increase in active connections per kilometer of piping from 28 to at least 43; (d) An improvement in the metering ratio from 49 percent at baseline to at least 72 percent; (e) An improvement in non-revenue water from a baseline value of 65 percent in 2014 to at least 58.8 percent in 2021. The AF will complement the parent project by rehabilitating the current transmission and distribution mains to improve the conveyance of water by the main transmission line from the treatment plant to central Monrovia’s main reservoirs. The AF will also increase the storage capacity in Paynesville areas to increase access and enhance the quality and quantity of the water supply service to existing customers. These works under the AF are expected to lead to at least 10,000 new household connections and 50 standpipes, while improving the supply service to the existing customers (active and illegal) through better regulation of the water demand and supply. Both parent project and AF will benefit 82,500 people provided with access to improved water sources as well as 70,625 people already connected and provided with access to enhanced water supply services. By rehabilitating the system and increasing storage capacity, the project will also be supporting critical investments that will help build longer-term resilience to climate change impacts that are expected in the country over the coming decades.