To mark the launch of the report, “Plumbing The Depths: An Analysis of NQI WASH in Ghana, Uganda, and Zambia,” the Standards Alliance, The Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC), and the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) hosted an educational webinar for representatives from Ghana, Uganda, and Zambia who work in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) across private, government, academic, and non-profit organizations.
“Plumbing the Depths” analyzes and evaluates drinking water and sanitation laws to determine whether they are sufficient to enable an effective national quality infrastructure for WASH. Ultimately, the research revealed several gaps within WASH laws and standards that suggest opportunities for improvement in the three countries. Two findings in particular demonstrate gaps in countries’ commitments to WASH: First, neither the Constitution nor any other law in Ghana, Uganda, or Zambia establish human rights to water and sanitation. Second, limited WASH standards have been adopted to assure that WASH products and services are safe and reliable, and even fewer are compulsory.
These gaps present key opportunities for strengthening the sector, and the report offers suggestions for how WASH laws can be enhanced. Countries can recommit to improving access to water and sanitation by establishing meaningful, tangible human rights to water within their Constitution or water law. They could also require the adoption of compulsory WASH standards to govern plumbing fittings and fixtures, piping, and water quality and water treatment technologies.
The report provides additional findings and recommendations; read the report and view the webinar. For questions, please contact [email protected].
About Standards Alliance: Phase 2
The Standards Alliance: Phase 2 (SA2) is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It includes collaboration with U.S. private-sector partners, U.S. government experts, and USAID-eligible countries between 2019 and 2026. SA2 conducts activities in the Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Indo-Pacific regions.
