Water pricing in Botswana 

Water is becoming increasingly scarce in eastern Botswana, which houses the majority of the country's 1.5 million inhabitants.
The reason for this is the increasing water consumption of both private and industrial consumers

Legislative measures are now under way in an attempt to force the population to reduce their water consumption. The introduction of water pricing will mean that the various consumers will pay the actual costs of retrieving and distributing water for different purposes.

"The project will help the inhabitants initiate a virtuous circle. By means of water saving campaigns and increasing water taxes we will try to motivate the people of Botswana to use less water. In that way we will create a sustainable sector," says COWI Project Manager Vagn Rehøj.

Towards the end of 2001, COWI won a two-year project to deliver technical assistance and assist the local Water Conservation Unit under the Department of Water Affairs in Botswana.

Danced (Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development) provides the financing for the project.

Published 28.01.2002