WATER KIOSKS IN ALLEVIATING WATER SHORTAGE AMONG URBAN POOR IN AFRICA: A REVIEW

Water kiosks are very important in supplying water to slum dwellers of urban Africa and other developing nations of the world. They bring the commodity close to water users and allow them access if and when they can afford it. This research explores how the kiosks can be used to ensure better access to water and for poverty alleviation. As established in this review, kiosk water is not cheap if used as an exclusive source of water. The services offered by kiosk operators are unreliable due to supply disruptions and water prices fluctuate based on demand for the commodity despite pre-existent water tariffs from regulatory institutions. Kiosk water is at risk of contamination due to unhygienic practices by operators at the facility’s vicinity and water consumers at the household level. To counter these challenges and make the kiosks a new avenue to alleviate poverty among water users, automation of water services, enforcement of water tariffs by regulatory institutions, installation of water reservoirs to use the commodity during disruptions and slum community education on safe water handling and storage practices were recommended. The recommendations once implemented would ensure slum dwellers reaped the health benefits associated with access to clean water for various consumptive uses that can result to sustainable development in developing nations.