Study of drink water supply chains

and development opportunites for

the Consortium of Urban Agriculture
in Butembo ( North Kivu, DRC )
Author :
TSURUKAWA Nicolas

Academic supervision by
© Tsurukawa 2010 Pr. Philippe BURNY – Gembloux Agro Bio Tech (ULg)
Pr. Jean-Marie GODEAU – Veterinary Faculty (ULg)

Since 2002, the Consortium of Urban Agriculture in Butemto (CAUB*) gathers local
development NGOs to take actions in the fields of food sovereignty and access
to drinking water. In the city, population increased from 400,000 inhabitants in year
2000 to more than 600,000 nowadays, due to high birth rate and persistant insecurity
in rural areas, after years of conflicts.

From 2004 till 2008, supported by the Belgian NGO UniverSud** and taking advantage
of the hilly topography, the CAUB built several gravitary water conveyance networks,
providing water to recently occupied peripheral areas of Butembo.

The microbial load of this harnessed water is lower than average unmanaged springs,
Source : Référentiel Géographique Commun – RDC www.rgc.cd but remains far above the World Health Organization standards. In June 2009, the
Consortium launched a new project, producing bleach in order to disinfect the water.

This study aims to strenghten the long-term viability of the process by assessing its
Butembo is located 15 km North from the Equator, at an altitude of 1700m. Its key position
between temperate highlands and equatorial lowlands made this city a traditionnal exchange cost-effectiveness and identifying strategic opportunities for further development of
market for agricultural products. With exportations of raw ore, coffee, papaine or quinine and this new supply chain.
trade of manufactured goods from Uganda to inner Provinces of the country, Butembo raised *CAUB is the local, commonly used designation of the organisation, standing for the French « Consortium d'Agriculture Urbaine de Butembo »
as one of the biggest commercial crossroads of the Democratic Republic of Congo, ** UniverSud was formerly known as the Cooperation and Development Agency of Liège University

WATER SPRINGS Electrodes

A 1 and CONVEYANCE NETWORKS 2 C
1°) The Maxi-WATA electrode costs 3750 US$
© 260 springs and 134 artesian wells were listed It can produce up to 900g of free chlorine every day
inside the administrative boundaries of Butembo. According to the WHO, 2 to 3mg of chlorine should
be added to water for complete disinfection.
Several local and International NGOs have been
Building conveyance networks and taps to keep 2°) The Altech electrodes cost 8808 US$, and
water from contaminations, with poor success. they can both produce 720g of free chlorine per
day.
The CAUB supplies the springs and pipes where The production of active chlorine is proportinal to
organised local committees charge a little fee to The electrolysis duration and applied current intensity.
every user to participate in the sustainability of Therefore, a poor capacity transformer limitates the
B the buildings. actual production.

from 6 to 10 PM, Old electric

Electricity for local
Alternating
currentf
Generator
Stabilisator
Alternating Transformer 720W Transformer 5 ELECTRICITY
4 3 community Of the CAUB current ( Dynamic Telwin 320) (provided with WATA)
WATER and SALT Alternating
Courant
Alternatif
Current
Computers,
Photocopier, Alternating Electric generator: Direct Direct Direct
As electricity is also needed by the CAUB office, half
Water and salt (sodium chloride) are the scanner
(CAUB office)
current 15 kW power
Fuel consumption :
Current Current Current
The costs are taken into account. Nevertheless, fuel
only raw material needed for the production 2L/hour
consumption to generate electricity has a share of
Antenna Technologies
Altech-made
electrodes
Altech-made
electrodes 2 Antenna Technologies
electrodes
of a sodium hypochlorite solution by (Switzerland)
5 19% in the whole production costs (and 50% without
CAUB Gasoil stock
electrolysis, following the below equations : Uzima Technologies Goma
1,4 US$/L
Anode cathode Anode cathode Anode cathode
considering the redemption costs).
WATA Test Reagent
The alternating current has to be converted to direct
100 L / 6h 100 L / 6h 3kg 120 L / 4h
2 NaCl (aq) + 2 H2O → 2 NaOH (aq) + Cl2 (g) + H2 (g) 15US$ / bottle
70 tests
CAUB – NaCl stock
0,22 US$/kg
2,5kg
NaCl at 12V x 20A
2,5 kg
NaCl at 12V x 20 A
NaCl
at 24V x 30 A current to be suitable for the electrolysis.
2 NaOH (aq) + Cl2 (g) → NaClO (aq) + NaCl (aq) + H2O
4 Moreover, fossil fuel prices are very sensitive as it is
WATABlue
CAUB water stock 3 commodity imported from Kenya and Uganda.
The water is drawn at the Vuhesi fountain, 8US$ / bottle
200 tests 1,7US$ / 600L
lying 4km away from the laboratory. Each (1 supply) 6
concentration checking Nevertheless, photovoltaic energy can't be an
supply of 600 litres costs 3,16 US$. with the WATA Test Reagent alternative because of the high nebulosity of the area
The price of salt in Butembo can vary from 7 and the need for regular production.
0,3 to 0,6 US$ / kg. Salt and water 48 x 40L monthly 24 x 40L monthly
CAUB delivery truck
Rough packaging NaOCl solution A few hydroelectric turbine are functional in the city
respectively represents 6% and 4% of the Full capacity : 600L
Automated Automated (15 cans of 40L) in 40L cans with 4,5g/L of free chlorine and could be a good investment for reducing the
total production costs. Chlorination system Chlorination system petrol consumption :
(Altech-made) (altech-made) 28,2 L / 100km costs of a larger scale production.
Market price evolution for salt in Butembo. Gasoil price evolution in Butembo from 2008 to 2010
Source : Urban Economy Office, 2009 KATWA III
waterpipe network
Vuhesi
waterpipe network
8 Packaging in
250ml bottles Source :Urban Economy Office, US Energy Information Administration,
(0,31US$/bottle) Association of Petrol Import company in Lubero territory
0,8 12x40L/ 2x40L/
Chlorinated Chlorinated monthly monthly
6 x 40L / monthly (40L for each spring, in a single delivery round) 1,8 160
0,7 water water 1,6 140
0,6
44 Public 30 public
1 Gifts : 0US$
(sensibilisation...) 1,4
120
salt price US$/kg

0,5 Kangote
fountains fountains Irangya Visika Kasuka Muyali Limboro Mulekya Vutetse 1,2
Waterpipe 100
0,4 spring spring spring spring spring spring well
network
US$ / Barrel

1
0,3 80
US$/L

Retail price 0,8

0,65 US$/bottle
0,2 Drawing of chlorinated drinking water
Drawing of clear but unsuitable for drink water by the local population
60
By local population 0,6
0,1
0,4 40
0 Residual free chlorine concentration
0,2 20
Manual chlorination by the local spring managing committee
01/06

04/06

10/06

01/07

07/07

10/07

04/08

01/09

10/09
07/06

04/07

01/08

07/08

10/08

04/09

07/09

checked with the WATABlue testing kit Wholesale price :

Chlorination pace might be adaptated 0,60 US$/bottle 0 0
02/08

05/08
06/08

08/08
09/08

12/08
01/09

03/09
04/09

07/09
08/09

10/09
11/09
04/08

07/08

10/08

02/09

05/09

09/09

12/09

month/year

official price month/year

market price w orld rate
(US$/L) (US$/L) (US$/barrel)

ADDITIONNAL COSTS
6 QUALITY CONTROL 7
1°) The packaging cost for disinfecting solution stored in 40L cans is 8 THE MARKET
It is crucial for public health that the sodium hypochlorite solution
negligible, as the cans are retrieved after each delivery. On the other
distributed by the CAUB actually has the indicated concentration. With the current configuration (water and energy
hand, 250ml bottles for family use costs 0,31US$, which represents
Lower rates would expose the consumer to microbial hazard due to supply, work shifts etc.), the monthly production of
45% of the selling price, while the solution itself only costs 0,03 US$.
Unsufficient disinfection. Excess concentration would not be harmfull, Sodium hypochlorite solution by the CAUB could
reducing this cost seems difficult because the hypochlorite solution
But the stronger smell and taste of chlorine might incommodate the reach up to 8400 litres (4,5g/L), which could
needs to be stored in an opaque bottle, and the short conservation
User. The WATA test reagent (0,21US$/test) is used in the laboratory provide daily 84,000 people with safe drink water.
Periode doesn't make necessary to sell bigger bottles.
to check and fitsfor concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 g/L of free
chlorine. The WATA Blue (0,06US$/test) controls the amount of Considering that 3680 litres are needed for the
2°) Because of the high fuel consumption (28,2L/100km), delivery
chlorine at the tap, that ensures residual disinfection power during springs and conveying networks (cf. 1 ), the
can represent from 2 to 20% of the final price, depending on the
water storage by the households. remaining production could be sold in bottles to
amount of chlorine transported at once and the distance between the
spring and the laboratory of the CAUB retailers such as pharmacists or hospitals. It could
These two kits from the NGO Antenna Technologies were found to be aswell be delivered in springs built by other NGOS,
much cheaper than other classic chemical testings such as Visocolor considering that some are also managed in a
3°) manual chlorination by local water managing team involves
(0,54US$/test, produced by Macherey & Nagel). sustainable and responsible way by local people.
a salary for these workers that should be included in the final price

Pictures :
A: Katwa III reservoir
B: Mulekya spring
C : Electrolysis device