Overlooked Market for Water Connections in Rabat's Shantytowns

Abstract

Despite the plentiful supply of water available at no cost in Rabat's shantytowns, a household survey during the summer of 1990 showed that most residents in these areas desire and could pay for individual house connections for water service. Results from the study also indicate that shantytown residents could pay for an individual water connection even if the water was sold on a flat‐rate schedule with a tariff well in excess of the water company's average cost to supply residential customers in other parts of the city. There are many reasons for not providing individual water connections to shantytown residents. However, the research shows that, in Rabat, these issues could be easily overcome, and that a piped water system with individual house connections can be financially viable even over periods much shorter than conventionally considered. The study also makes the more general point that populations considered the most indigent in developing country cities often can afford public utilities at realistic tariff levels—if only the service was made available.