ABSTRACT

In dealing with the challenges associated with water supply in urban low-income areas, water utilities are increasingly adopting service differentiation, which revolves around servicing different customer groups with different supply modalities. This article examines how such differentiation through the use of water kiosks and yard taps satisfies the water needs of consumers in low-income areas in three Kenyan cities. Based on an analysis of the reliability, affordability and accessibility of the water supplied, we conclude that while service differentiation has led to some improvements in access to piped connections in low-income areas, it also risks reinforcing the inequalities in access to water.

摘要

在应对城市低收入地区供水的挑战时，水务公司越来越多地采用服务差异化，围绕着以不同的供水方式为不同的客户群体提供服务。本文研究了通过使用水亭和庭院水龙头的这种差异化如何满足肯尼亚三个城市低收入地区消费者的用水需求。基于对供水的可靠性、可负担性和可及性的分析，我们得出结论，虽然服务差异化导致低收入地区的管道连接获得了一些改善，但它也有可能加剧供水方面的不平等。