Bor, South Sudan Transforms Flood Devastation into Sustainable Water Solution
In late 2020, Bor, South Sudan, was completely submerged when the White Nile broke its banks to a level not seen in 60 years. In response to this emergency, a climate-resilient water treatment plant was developed near Bor with funding from the Netherlands and South Korea, costing about $5.4 million. The plant was completed and handed over to the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation (SSUWC).
The facility is strategically raised on higher ground to mitigate future flood risks and operates on solar power, reducing both running costs and carbon emissions. It connects 28 community kiosks, 704 households, seven schools, and a hospital through a 33-mile pipe network that serves approximately 96,000 users, roughly 80% of Bor’s population.
Water is sold at about 3,500 South Sudanese pounds per cubic meter (roughly 60p), with regular customers paying around 2p for a 20-litre jerrycan. Women run the water kiosks, which has improved safety and reduced the time required to fetch water, while also enabling irrigation for households including farmers like Achol Teresa.
Schools connected to the system, such as St Andrew High School, have reported improved attendance and academic performance, as students can now stay for afternoon classes. Girls in particular benefit from increased access to school water facilities.
UNICEF reports that only about 40% of South Sudan’s 13 million people currently have access to drinking water within a 30-minute walk, highlighting the crucial need for large-scale investment in water infrastructure. Local officials commend the Bor project as a model facility. The managing director of SSUWC stresses the importance of sustainability following donor withdrawal and calls for government funding to maintain these vital investments.
What began as an emergency response to severe flooding has evolved into a comprehensive long-term solution incorporating dykes and drainage systems to secure a reliable water supply for the community.
