Number of People per Water Point

This emergency indicator assesses whether the number (and capacity) of the local water points is sufficient for the number of people who use them.

There are two ways to collect the required data:

1) Assign staff (or volunteers) who will count the number of people using the targeted water points (cover entire day, starting from very early morning until early evening).

2) If there is a fee collection scheme that records the number of users, collect the required data by conducting key informant interviews with the water point operators and by reviewing relevant records:

RECOMMENDED QUESTIONS:

Q1: During an average day, how many people use this water point?

Q2: Does the number of people change throughout the season? If so, how?

DATA ANALYSIS:

The Sphere Handbook provides the following guidelines for different water sources:

1) 400 people per single-user open well (based on a flow of 12.5 litres per minute)

2) 500 people per hand pump (based on a flow of 17 litres per minute)

3) 250 people per tap (based on a flow of 7.5 litres per minute)

These guidelines assume that the water point is accessible for approximately eight hours a day only and water supply is constant during that time.

1) Cross-check the data with several different people - for example, with a tap attendant, Water Management Committee members, and people using the water source.