National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NUWSSP - 2030).

The National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NUWSSP - 2030) is the Government’s Road Map for providing clean, safe, and reliable drinking water and adequate sanitation to residents in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as to commercial, industrial, and institutional areas. The approach is holistic and integrated, and it hence encompasses the provision of water supply and sanitation in a broad sense, including off and on-site facilities. The program's primary goal is to direct investments toward sustainable water and sanitation development. This includes not only rehabilitating existing facilities but also building new infrastructure and establishing effective operations and maintenance systems. Furthermore, this integrated approach aims to ensure equitable service provision by balancing development across different regions and addressing the disparities in investment between water supply and sanitation. The Program also guides the construction of new water and sewage treatment plants, with a special focus on border towns, growth centers, and new districts. It integrates drainage and solid waste management as crucial components of overall environmental sanitation.
The NUWSSP is composed of 8 main components aimed at improving urban water and sanitation services, possibly to be summarized around the following main areas (i) Water Supply and Sanitation: The Program will encompass emergency measures and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. Key priorities include reducing non-revenue water through leak repair and new meter installation, followed by service expansion. Both water and sanitation components will focus on achieving financial sustainability through improved collection efficiency and progressive tariffs. Management efficiency will be enhanced through private sector involvement, capacity building, and public participation; (ii) Solid Waste Management and Drainage: The Program will establish proper landfill sites and develop municipal solid waste management plans, including systems for hazardous waste. For drainage, initial investments will target flood-prone areas through the construction and rehabilitation of drains. Both areas will see service quality improvements through enhanced management, awareness campaigns, and increased private sector involvement; (iii) Policy, Capacity, and Information Management: The NUWSSP will review and update the water and sanitation policy and legal framework. It will also build institutional capacity at all levels, with a primary focus on service providers. The program will establish a comprehensive information management system, including GIS, based on agreed-upon standards; (iv) Research and Development: The Program will also develop a research initiative in partnership with Zambian universities and institutions to advance technology, management, and socio-economic aspects of urban water and sanitation.