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In order to curb urban pollution several approaches have been
attempted, including penalties through the Polluter Pays Principle
(PPP). The PPP calls for corporate responsibility that requires
the polluter to take economic and environmental responsibility
for wastes. Examples of PPP application in the water sector in
Africa are few, but include the payment for disposal of waste from
tanneries in South Africa (McClean and others 2007).
MANAGING URBAN WATER
Most current urban water management strategies are targeted
at supplying water, with priority given to quantity and quality.
This requires water supply infrastructure such as piped
systems for water and sewer reticulation, and the construction
of storage reservoirs such as dams. Administrative units for the
collection of revenues from the provision of water services also
have to be set up.
Management of the water resources in Africa falls under various
jurisdictions, including under the state, local authorities,
catchment councils or the private sector. Management
emphasis, ranges from making a profit to providing a social
service. One example of water management is in South Africa,
where the aim is to generate income out of water provision as
well as to provide a social service. This is accomplished through
a combination of tariffs, cost recovery and free basic water
under which every household receives the first six cubic metres
per month for free, and the tariffs are gradually increased with
greater usage (Government of South Africa 2005).
Not all urban dwellers have access to improved water and
sanitation, hence there is an increase in informal entrepreneurs
in the water and sanitation business to fill the gap in service
provision by public sector water and sanitation systems. Many
African governments are opposed to their activities due to their
informal nature (Cudjoe and Okonski 2006).
Urban authorities use amix of incentives and penalties to promote
water use efficiency through recycling and reuse, as well as access
to alternative sources of water such as rainwater harvesting.
URBAN WATER SECTOR REFORMS
In view of economic reforms, the urban water sector as
managed by local authorities and central governments has seen
unsustainable pricing, inequitable subsidies, inadequate public