Country Profile Regulation Tariffs Zambia is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. It borders DR Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west. The country is administratively divided into 10 provinces which are further divided into 116 districts. The 103 local authorities – consisting of four city councils, 15 municipal councils and 84 district councils – are overseen by the Ministry of Local Government, and responsible for water supply and sanitation provision. Country Overview Year Figure Population 2021 19,473,125 Country Area (km2) 2020 752,610 GDP (billion USD) 2021 22.15 GDP per capita (USD) 2021 1,137.3 World Bank Income Group 2021 Low Income World Bank Region 2021 Sub-Saharan Africa Source: World Bank Data - Zambia Water and Wastewater Sector Structure Since Zambia’s water sector reforms in the 1990’s, water and wastewater service provision has been focused more on the urban population. Today, these services in urban and peri-urban areas in Zambia are provided by 11 commercial utilities which are organized as joint ventures between local authorities. They are regulated and supervised by NWASCO, and their service area covers almost 8 million people. In rural areas, district councils are in charge of water supply, but the service coverage lags considerably behind urban areas. The Government of Zambia has developed a National Rural WSS Programme (NRWSSP) to increase and improve access to water supply and sanitation, through a clear set of priorities and approaches. Along with that, NWASCO developed a framework for the provision and regulation for rural WSS which allows commercial utilities to amend their operating licenses to include rural areas. There are also five private water schemes which do not run their services on a commercial basis but primarily for their commercial activities and employees. Nevertheless, these schemes are also subject to NWASCO’s licensing procedure, but their regulatory performance requirements are minimal and only include indicators on service coverage, hours of supply and water quality. Authority Level Role Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection National Responsible for the development and management of water resources, provision of clean water supply and adequate sanitation for all. Ministry of Local Government National Coordinates activities, programs, and projects in implementing the provision of water and sanitation services through Local Authorities. Ministry of Health National Responsible for water quality regulations. National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) National Independent regulatory agency that regulates the provision of water supply and sanitation services. Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) National Independent environmental regulator with the responsibility for environmental protection. Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) National Responsible for the management, development, conservation, protection and preservation of water resources and its ecosystems. Local Authorities Local Responsible for water supply and sanitation provision. Commercial Utilities Local Joint ventures between local authorities who have a mandate for provision of water supply and sanitation services in urban and peri-urban areas. Number of WSS Service Providers 11 Ownership Public Service Type Water and Wastewater Geographic Scope Municipal and Regional The National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) was established under the Water Supply and Sanitation Act of 1997, with the core mandate to regulate the provision of WSS services in Zambia. NWASCO’s main functions are to: License WSS providers Approve tariffs Advise the government on water and sanitation issues Set up and enforce sector standards and guidelines Advise WSS on procedures for handling complaints from consumers Inform consumers on water supply and sanitation issues and their consumer rights and obligations The regulator is an active member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Water and Sanitation Regulators’ Association (ESAWAS), a network of WSS regulators, and a NewIBNET Partner, that cooperates on matters of information sharing, peer-review, expert training, and other matters related to effective regulation of water supply and sanitation services in their respective jurisdictions. Mission To effectively regulate the provision of water supply and sanitation that ensure safe, adequate, efficient, and sustainable service delivery for all. Water and Wastewater Regulations Legislation and Policies Year Description Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 1997 Established the NWASCO as a regulatory agency as well as water and sanitation providers. Water Resources Management Act No. 21 2011 Established the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and determined its functions. Local Government Act 2019 Makes provisions for integrated local government systems including responsibility for water and wastewater services. National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy 2020 Policy that aims to accelerate universal access to clean and safe water and adequate sanitation in Zambia. Areas of Regulation Areas National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) Tariff Calculation Yes Tariff Approval Yes Licensing Water and/or Wastewater Service Providers Yes Business plans approvals No Performance indicators monitoring Yes Economic Data Collection Yes Technical Data Collection Yes Utility Date Tariff Lusaka WSC 2019 Tariff Eastern WSC 2020 Tariff North Western WSC 2019 Tariff Southern WSC 2020 Tariff Western WSC 2019 Tariff A more complete list of tariffs can be found at IBNET Tariff Database - Zambia