The document summarizes research on the informal water market in the Paraiso neighborhood of Cacuaco, Angola. Quantitative surveys of 44 households found most get water from private water tanks, paying between 1-60 Kz per 20 liters. Mapping identified 48 water points, but only 17 were operational. Qualitative interviews revealed prices vary daily and relationships influence water access. The unstable water supply causes stress for residents reliant on it. While over 2/3 of tanks were empty, people continued constructing new ones, raising questions about their purpose despite the lack of water.

1. «Mercado Informal de Água»
«The informal water market»
Henrik Lindblom

2. Municipio: Cacuaco
Comuna: Kikolo
Bairro: Paraiso
«Paraiso»

3. Methods and research assistants
1. Quantitative surveys

The surveys were carried-out by Caetano, Gideão, Luisa and Tresor (DW)
2. Quantitative mapping

The mapping was carried-out by myself, together with Petur and two
representatives from Comissão De Morradores Do Bairro Paraiso
3. Qualitative interviews

The qualitative interviews were carried-out by myself, together with Petur

4. 1. Quantitative surveys
Total - 44 households
interviewed:

32 mothers

6 fathers

3 sons

2 daughters

2 mothers and fathers together
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Who was asked?
Random sample in Paraiso
Mother
Father
Son
Daughter
Mother and Father
Family member
Numberofpeopleasked
Water Vendors Water Consumers
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2 Vendors - 42 Consumers

5. 1. Quantitative surveys
1 – 20 Kz
21 – 40 Kz
41 – 60 Kz
No answer
0
5
10
15
20
25
If you buy water from a private tank, what is the usual price
your family have to pay for 20 liters (um bidon)?
Tanque de água privado
0 – 30 min
31 – 60 min
61 – 90 min
91 – 120 min
4 hours or more
No answer
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
How long time a day does your family
approximately spend on gaining water?

6. 2. Quantitative mapping
a) Random mapping of the spatial distribution of:

Public and private water tanks (Tanques de água privado / publico)

Public water pumps (Chafariz publico)
b) Measuring time and distance between Kifangondo-
filling station and Paraiso

7. 2. Quantitative mapping
Private water tanks: 33 (10 operative / 23 non-operative)
Private water tanks (piped): 6 (6 operative)
Public water tanks (japanese): 5 (5 non-operative)
Public water tanks (state): 2 (2 non-operative)
Public water pumps «Chafariz»: 2 (1 operative / 1 non-operative)
Total: 48 water points (17 operative / 31 non-operative) (46 tanques / 2 chafariz)
Tanque Privado Tanque Privado (Piped) Tanque Publico (Japan) Tanque Publico (State) Chafariz (EPAL)
0
5
10
15
20
25
Mapping of different water points in Paraiso
- Random sampling
Operative
Not operative
Quantities

8. 3. Qualitative interviews
- Most people I talked with had been unable to buy water – either due to scarcity
of water in the area, or due to lack of money in the household.
- A woman I talked with told me that she could buy one «banheira» for 80 Kz,
that was a good price. And she could even sometimes get one «banheira» for
free, as she has a good relationship with her neighbour who sells water...
- Another female water vendor told me that she allows some people to tap water
from her tank, and at the same time let the customers pay her back later – if she
has a good relationship with the buyer...

9. It is difficult to calculate access to water in the
informal sector...because
- One day a private water tank is full, and can be classified as a «valid water
point», the next day it might be empty and should be classified as an «unvalid
water point»...
- The prices of water vary each day, depending on the amounts of water in the
bairro...
- The informal water sector develops informal rules. Buyers from private water
tanks have told me that a good relationship with the seller can give you
advantages in terms of a lower price, possibility to pay later and even get you in
the front of the queue...

10. Constraints in the water landscape
of Paraiso
Water landscape: «By water landscape, we mean the physical water resources
available to people in the geographical area under study, their types and relative
locations within the landscape» (Larsson et al., 2009, p. 125)
Constraints in the water landscape of Paraiso:
1. Economy
2. Quantity
3. «Capability constraints» (Hägerstrand, 1991 [1970]). Space and distance
4. «Coupling constraints» (Hägerstrand, 1991 [1970]). Time-limited
5. «Authority constraints» (Hägerstrand, 1991 [1970]). Network and social
relations

11. Reflections...
Access to water in Paraiso is dependent on price,
distance and quantity that varies each day...
For this reason, the people in Paraiso are facing
stress, insecurity and uncertainty each day, as
they rely on an unstable form of water access –
such as the informal water market.

12. Question...
More than 2/3 of the private
water tanques that I
registered in «Paraiso» was
totally empty, and at the
same time there was a lot of
new private water tanks
under construction. Why do
the people in «Paraiso» still
construct water tanks as
there barely exists any
water in the bairro?

13. Thanks to everyone in DW for all the help and
support!