Vahdat District, Tajikistan, September 25, 2014 – U.S. Ambassador Susan M. Elliott and Chorsu Jamoat Chairman Emom Siddikov officially handed over a new drinking water system to the residents of Ghalchagi village in Chorsu, Vahdat District. Vahdat District Chairman Amirzoda Rahmonali (TBC), USAID representatives, jamoat officials, Mahalla Committee leaders, and residents of Ghalchagi village also participated in the ceremony. The system will provide 353 residents with clean drinking water. The water infrastructure project is part of the USAID Local Governance Project, which works in 10 districts and 20 jamoats to improve the quality of local governance and service delivery.

Ambassador Elliott stated, “Clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene support many of our development projects to reduce poverty. We work with local communities to provide long-term, cost-effective solutions that can reduce levels of poverty and disease.”

The USAID Local Governance Project built the 8,400 meter water pipeline, constructed the chlorination and water distribution facility and installed individual water spigots to bring water to the 37 households of Ghalchagi village.

The project also advised the Mahalla Committee on how to set up a service delivery system and how to choose a management model for the new water supply system in order to ensure continuous and reliable water supply to customers. The management model encompasses the operation and maintenance of the water system, with attention to local legislation, tariff setting, fee collection and accounting.