Analysis of non-conventional water services in spontaneous habitat districts: case study of the EBA’A District in the periphery of the Younde City (Center region in Cameroon)
An analysis of the informal water service of a spontaneous dwelling district in the periphery of Yaounde (EBA'A) was carried out. The work was to identify the features of the service, the difficulties encountered by its users, the main factors used to measure satisfaction of the clientele, and to define the perspectives for improvement of this service. In order to achieve this, a survey was carried out in the district on a representative sample of the population, together with field observations. Analysis revealed that the local water services depend on independent sources that are considerably far from the consumers. This type of service seems to be inconvenient for the households of EBA'A, more because of supply than the cost of the service. That’s why, by way of improvement, the households would like a drinking water source that is nearby and permanent, even if the cost is high. However, there is a break-even point of $2.10•m-3. In this case, a delay of payment of the invoices of at least ten days, with interruptions of service not exceeding three days, would be acceptable for these households. Non-conventional drinking water services would be acceptable alternatives to access potable water in spontaneous districts, if they were near, permanent and at acceptable cost.