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How Zambia’s Commercial Utilities Are Leading the Way in Water and Environmental Stewardship

June 17, 2025

In Zambia, like any other place on the planet, water sustains life, livelihoods, and the environment. And commercial utilities (CUs) play a pivotal role in managing it. Zambia’s 11 CUs are responsible for supplying potable water, supporting public health, managing rising urban water demand, and strengthening capacity in communities for effective management of water access and sewerage infrastructure. Their mandate also stretches across complex operational issues like non-revenue water (NRW), water treatment, and network expansion – all while working to ensure service continuity and safety.

Amid these challenges, a quiet transformation is underway. The concept of Water and Environmental Stewardship is helping to shift CUs from being just service providers to becoming active partners in sustainable water governance. This paradigm change encourages a stakeholder-based approach, where utilities not only manage infrastructure but also help protect water resources through innovation, community engagement, and collaboration.

To recognize and promote this critical evolution, the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI) launched the Stewardship Awards in 2018. LuWSI is a platform of over 40 partners from the public and private sector and civil society, supported by GIZ’s Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS II). Now, in its Commercial Utility edition, the award is shining a well-deserved spotlight on the efforts made within Zambia’s water sector.

Gabions installed to protect the Zambezi River from soil erosion, safeguarding water treatment investments. Location: Southern Water and Sanitation Company’s Kazungula intake point, Kazungula, Southern Province, Zambia. ©GIZ/Mukreativz 

Showcasing Stewardship in Action

This year’s edition of the award saw seven Commercial Utilities submit entries documenting their sustainability practices, innovations, and community engagement strategies. These submissions were independently verified through site visits and reviews. The evaluation teams comprised the Lusaka Water Security Initiative Secretariat, National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the NatuReS Programme. They assessed key criteria including leadership and institutional commitment, operational practices, innovation and technology as well as community engagement and environmental protection. The evaluations both uncovered shared challenges and opportunities, reinforcing the value of collective learning in the sector.

All utilities demonstrated high levels of commitment, with their initiatives underlining how stewardship is not a one-size-fits-all model but a spectrum of solutions adapted to local contexts – and driven by genuine care for natural resources and the communities served:

  • Southern Water Supply and Sanitation Company (SWASSCO) invested in intake protection along the Zambezi River in Kazungula. This effort combined engineering upgrades with tree-planting and community sensitisation to protect vulnerable intake points.
  • Luapula Water reinforced its community engagement by partnering with local watch groups that promote WASH practices and report vandalism. These groups interface directly with the Utility’s senior management – eliminating bureaucratic delays and fostering trust. By embedding community voices into utility operations, it strengthens public accountability and drives improved environmental outcomes. This sets a strong example of inclusive stewardship that can be replicated across the sector.
  • Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) showcased multiple innovations. At Chongwe intake, improved filtration shall enhance water quality, while at the Lolanda treatment plant, a system has been implemented to repurpose backwash water – reducing waste and increasing efficiency. In Kafue, LWSC partnered with Fresh Life to pilot affordable container based toilets in markets and select residential areas. These sanitation solutions offer a safer, more sustainable alternative to pit latrines by minimizing groundwater contamination and supporting urban hygiene.
Site visit to one of the LWSC and Fresh Life toilet facilities in Kafue, Lusaka, Zambia. ©GIZ/Mukreativz 

The award ceremony was held on April 16 alongside the official launch of the Water Sector Report, presided over by the Zambian Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Hon. Collins Nzovu. The Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) emerged as the winner, with Southern Water Supply and Sanitation Company (SWASSCO) as runner-up.

Award presentation to the best performing Commercial Utility in Water and Environmental Stewardship. From left to right: Eng. Romas Kamanga, Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) Permanent Secretary; Mr. Jilly Chiyombwe, LWSC Managing Director; Hon. Collin Nzovu, MWDS Minister; Ms. Ruth Mulenga, LWSC Public Relations. ©GIZ/Mukreativz 

Building a Culture of Stewardship

Ultimately, the Stewardship Award is not just about accolades. It is a call to action, encouraging utilities to go beyond compliance and embrace their role as environmental guardians. It promotes a mindset where collaboration – across regulators, businesses, communities, and development partners – becomes the norm, not the exception. For Zambia to achieve its vision of water security and resilience, especially in the face of climate change and rapid urbanisation, Commercial Utilities are central actors. The award is a step toward further embedding stewardship into the culture of service delivery.

The progress seen across Zambia’s Commercial Utilities is enabled through the support of NatuReS, committed to advancing a Just Transition with fair, sustainable, and inclusive outcomes for all stakeholders. Through these efforts, NatuReS helps to anchor stewardship and resilience principles at the core of water governance in Zambia.

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