Household needs and demand for improved water supply and sanitation in peri-urban ger areas: the case of Darkhan, Mongolia

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 1561 - 1566
• Main Authors: Sigel, K., Altantuul, K., Basandorj, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.03.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental Science and Engineering; Geochemistry; Geology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Sanitation services; Special Issue; Terrestrial Pollution; Urban areas; Water resources management; Water supply; Mongolia; Demand; Millennium Development Goals; Water infrastructure planning; Household-centred approach; Peri-urban; Needs
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-011-1221-7

The lack of adequate water supply and sanitation services is a major issue related to sustainable development in many parts of the developing world. New strategic planning approaches which directly address users’ needs and demand—often referred to as demand-responsive, community-based or household-centred approaches—are regarded as a crucial step towards improving the situation. This paper investigates household needs and demand for improved water supply and sanitation services in peri-urban, low-income settlements, known as “ger areas”, in the city of Darkhan, Mongolia. The paper is based largely on a household survey conducted in a selected ger area subdistrict in Darkhan. The results reveal a complex picture. Even if the existing situation can be regarded as largely “improved” in terms of the definitions stipulated by the Joint Monitoring Programme for water supply and sanitation, it is shown that there is a need for action nonetheless. The paper also argues that the household survey is a useful method for assessing users’ needs and demand and for meeting the requirements of demand-responsive sanitation planning approaches.