Al-Shehr

Autonomous Water Utility

Al-Shehr Water Utility is responsible for providing water and sanitation services to Al Sheher city and surrounding areas in Hadramaut Governorate, Yemen. Established in 2001, the utility oversees the treatment, distribution and management of potable water resources, with about 95% of the population served by the water supply network. The utility operates 16 wells to supply water, maintaining a daily production capacity of 15,791 cubic meters. Despite the presence of a wastewater collection system, there is no treatment plant, and the collected wastewater is discharged into the sea. The utility faces challenges such as a lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited human resources. The technical assessment revealed that the average water consumption per capita is 80 liters per day, which is below the WHO standard of 150 liters per day. The utility struggles with high non-revenue water rates of 35-55%, frequent pipeline blockages, and the absence of a water quality monitoring lab. Financially, the utility faces significant deficits, with expenses exceeding revenues. The institutional assessment highlighted the need for improved governance, updated organizational structure, enhanced customer management, and better financial and IT systems.