In a city where urban water infrastructure ranges from "insufficient" to "nonexistent," Lagos entrepreneurs have developed a bustling trade in "sachet water." Is it time to focus more attention on regulating the sachet industry?
No one is immune from the poor state of the urban water infrastructure in Lagos, Nigeria. Those that have water connections face erratic and sometimes contaminated supply; 70 percent have no access to piped water at all. Of those with "piped" access, two-thirds access that water from community taps.
Enter the sachet industry, commercially purified packets of water sold by the polyethylene sack at 6 cents a pop. For many of Lagos' poor, it is the most affordable option for potable water. Or should we say, "mostly potable"? Recent research shows that contamination in the sachet water trade is rampant.
It's easy to say that the answer is improving traditional water infrastructure (you know: pipes). However, beyond the usual issues of cost and implementation logistics, in Lagos efforts to improve water infrastructure are met by fierce opposition from water hawkers and others who profit from the status quo. In the short term, the best solution may be to focus on those ubiquitous water sachets, not as the best solution, but as the "least-worst" solution.
Thanks to Rachel Proctor May
FULL STORY: On Clean Drinking Water in Lagos: Many Options, Few Solutions
Lead Pipes Make Up Nearly One Tenth of US Water Service Lines
A decade after the Flint crisis captured national attention, tens of thousands of US water transmission lines can still leach dangerous chemicals.
Southern Water Infrastructure at Risk From Climate Impacts
A water main breaks somewhere in the United States every two minutes, according to an estimate from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
California Water Plan Readies State for Climate-Impacted Future
A wet winter will replenish the state’s snowpack and reservoirs, but could also increase flooding and wildfire risk in some areas.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service