Evaluation of operation and maintenance interventions : Cairo sewerage I project

Ex post external evaluation covers the period through 11/88. The project improved Cairo's wastewater system's operation and maintenance; since 1981, flooded areas have been reduced by nearly two-thirds. Pump stations and sewer cleaning still have deficiencies but are more effective due to a combination of new equipment, training, preventive maintenance, and management advice. The training component was effective but needs to be expanded (in regard to both technical and management training), since only 6%-7% of the work force has received training thus far. Effective operation of the General Organization for Sanitary Drainage (GOSD) is constrained by a lack of management autonomy and limited ability to raise revenues. The GOSD's budget is also inadequate and the provision of foreign currency for spare parts is uncertain. After the project was terminated, a 15-month hiatus in initiating follow-on Work Order IVA caused some of the gains made by the project to be lost. To reinstate the program to the level needed by 1991 (when clean water flowing into Cairo will exceed the new system's capacity) will require: (1) restoring preventive maintenance checklists and regular evaluations and training personnel from GOSD's Technical Evaluation Department to undertake these responsibilities; (2) initiating an annual competition, with prizes, for best station, crew, performance; (3) building an urgently needed pump repair shop; (4) improving the supply of and procedures for obtaining spare parts; (5) developing safety policy and providing safety equipment and training (an urgent need); (6) educating the public to avoid misuse of sewers; (7) amending building regulatons in order to prevent building without sewers as well as the construction of buildings over manholes; (8) mapping the sewer system; and (9) establishing new maintenance depots.