Baseline Survey: Chimanimani and Chipinge Emergency and Early Recovery WASH Program

The program focuses on restoring community water supplies, supporting reconstruction of household sanitation facilities, and promoting essential hygiene messages to prevent further disease transmission. The baseline survey, conducted in September 2019, provides an information base on gaps, opportunities, and needs of affected households in Chimanimani and Chipinge. The study focused on water access, supply, and quality, as well as hygiene and sanitation practices in these districts. The survey revealed that significant numbers of households relied on water from springs, with 50.3% of springs in Chipinge and 36% in Chimanimani being silted or washed away by the floods, leaving over 70% of households in dire need of water access for safe drinking and domestic use. The study further revealed that over 60% of households in targeted wards consumed water from unsafe water sources, exposing them to the risk of waterborne diseases. The Rural District Councils reported that distances travelled to access water increased by 30%, with over 65% of households spending more than 30 minutes fetching water, resulting in excessive cuts in household water use. This has limited most households to using less than the recommended Sphere standards of 7.5 to 15 litres per person per day. The cyclone also had a devastating impact on sanitation facilities, with 98% and 70% of facilities in Chipinge and Chimanimani, respectively, being destroyed. This has resulted in very poor sanitation coverage, with households relying on open defecation or using makeshift sanitation facilities. The study highlights the need for urgent intervention to restore water and sanitation services, promote hygiene practices, and prevent further disease transmission in these high-risk districts. The baseline survey provides a critical information base for monitoring and assessing the WASH project's progress and effectiveness during implementation and after completion. The study's findings will inform the development of targeted interventions to address the water, sanitation, and hygiene needs of affected households in Chimanimani and Chipinge.