Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy 2019

This Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy provides for reviewing the current status of the water supply and sanitation sector in the Imo State, in order to identify the challenges affecting the development of the sector and reducing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and to offer proper solutions to these challenges. The Policy then proposes a framework for sustainable development, water governance, fiscal responsibility, accountability and regulation. The Policy defines and covers the following terms and concepts: rural, semi-urban and urban water supply scheme; access to safe drinking-water; sustainable access to water and sanitation services; community managed water system; drinking water quality control; drainage basin; groundwater basin; integrated water resources management; improved sanitation facilities; sewerage system; water safety plan. The main goals of this Policy are: protecting and enhancing the quality of water resources; promoting the wise and efficient management and use of water; providing guidance and direction in institutional, economic and legal reforms that will lead to improved water governance at all levels throughout the State; improving access to safe and adequate water supply; providing adequate sanitation services; strengthening the management and sustainability of water resources considering the integrated water resource management principles of protection and conservation; reducing the incidence of water-related diseases; stimulating increased investment and funding in the sector; promoting market principles and encouraging private sector participation in the sector.
The Policy specifies: water supply general principles and guiding principles; key sanitation policy issues, including: social and occupational aspects of sanitation, defined institutional roles and responsibilities, urban water supply principles, small towns and rural water supply principles, sanitation principles; policies statements and strategies including: access to water and sanitation services, integrated water resources management, drinking water quality and standards, encouraging public-private partnerships initiatives, improving gender issues and the role of women, prioritisation of funding for semi-urban and rural water facility development, surface and ground water monitoring, water tariff setting, capacity building in the sector, research and technological development, environmental management, waste water management and prevention of water pollution.