Costs of urban utility water connections: excessive burden to the poor

A global research programme was undertaken to investigate the actual costs and charges of obtaining a water connection in urban areas. Drawing from the Uganda case study, this paper will contribute to the understanding of the enormity of the barriers of the connection process and costs levelled against the urbanpoor, and the importance of programmes and pricing structures for enabling access to the water supply systems. The researchers found a mean cost of new water connection of US$500 (median of $197). This is unaffordable for $2 per-day-households, which are therefore unable to access the benefits from piped water services.