WATSAN policy

Consequently, the GOSL established the Guma Valley Water Company for the city of Freetown, and the Water Supply Division of the Ministry of Energy and Power to be responsible for water supply and sanitation outside Freetown. Later SALWACO was established to take over selected urban water supply systems outside Freetown. It is now responsible for both urban and rural water supply and sanitation outside Freetown.

After Sierra Leone attained independence and especially during the IDWSSD (1981-1990) considerable progress was made to install various types of water supply and sanitation facilities which brought the national coverage from 2% and 1% for water supply and sanitation respectively at the beginning of the decade to 35% and 5% at the end. However, as a result of inadequate finance for investment and maintenance and destruction of infrastructure during the decade old civil war (1991-2000) the water supply coverage fell to 15% while the sanitation coverage remained at 5%. This has resulted in increased water-borne diseases and high infant mortality rates which have impacted more adversely on women and children. After the civil war and as a result of measures taken during the period of the National Recovery Strategy (2000-2003) the coverage has improved to 22% and 15% respectively.

The GOSL finds the present coverage very inadequate. First in spite of the fact that Sierra Leone is endowed with vast water resources there is inadequate water in the dry season to meet drinking and industrial water needs. Secondly in spite of the fact that there are many stakeholders in the sector, there is no national policy guideline and action plan for the country and every stakeholder is using its own method of service provision.

In view of this, the GOSL has decided to prepare this policy and guidelines on water and sanitation for proper co-ordination of stakeholders activities in order to ensure efficient and accelerated service delivery.