The Search for Water in Urban Sahelian Area. Analysis of Original Transitions: Access and Loss of Running Water in Ouagadougou

Stephanie Dos Santos Beauchamp, Université de Montréal

Water is life. In many respects, the access to drinking water of good quality and adequate quantity can be regarded as a basic social service which everyone has a right. However, in Ouagadougou, 80 % of the households still spent hours in the daily search of drinking water. The best way to have low cost and easily accessible water remains the access to water piped in dwelling. But, we show that this situation is still the prerogative of a small group of privileged people. And the most surprising, is that this access is far from being a definite asset. If 66 % have had at least once access to water piped in dwelling during their life, 64 % of them have lost it. Based on a national survey gathered information of 2839 life histories in Ouagadougou, the analysis is carried out using longitudinal methods and proportional hazards models especially.