An act to establish a Community Water and Sanitation Agency to facilitate the provision of safe water and related sanitation services to rural communities and to provide for connected purposes. Date of Assent: 30th December, 1998 be it enacted by Parliament as follows:
Part 1- Establishment of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
(1) There is established by this Act a body to be known as the Community Water and Sanitation Agency referred to in this Act as “the Agency”.
(2) The Agency shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(3) The Agency may in the discharge of its functions acquire and hold any movable or immovable property and enter into any contract or other transaction.
Objectives and functions of the Agency.
(1) The object of the Agency is to facilitate the provision of safe water and related sanitation services to rural communities and small towns.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the Agency shall perform the following functions:
(a) provide support to District Assemblies to: (i) promote the sustainability of safe water supply and related sanitation services in rural communities and small towns; and
(ii) enable the Assemblies encourage the active involvement of the communities, especially women, in the design, planning, construction and community management of projects related to safe water supply and related sanitation services;
(b) formulate strategies for the effective mobilization of resources for the execution of safe water development and related sanitation programmes in rural communities and small towns. (c) encourage private sector participation in the provision of safe water supply and related sanitation services in rural communities and small towns,
(d) provide District Assemblies with technical assistance in the planning and execution of water development and sanitation projects in the districts;
(e) assist and co-ordinate with Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOS) engaged in:
(i) the development of rural community and small town water supply;
(ii) the provision of sanitation facilities and hygiene education in the country;
(f) initiate and pursue in collaboration with the Ministries of Local Government, Environment, Health and Education, formal and non- formal education programmes for the creation of public awareness in rural communities and small towns of water related health hazards;
(g) prescribe standards and guidelines for safe water supply and provision of related sanitation services in rural communities and small towns and support the District Assemblies to ensure compliance by the suppliers of the services;
(h) charge reasonable fees for the services provided;
(i) collaborate with such international agencies as the Agency considers necessary for the purposes of this Act; and
(j) perform any other functions assigned to it under this Act.