Water Infrastructure in a small west African city: Situating sharing and volunteering in the making of urban infrastructures

This paper explores water sharing and volunteering as lenses to investigate the social relations, visions and aspirations moving water in Bafat ' a, a small city in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Water sharing is a prevalent practice in Bafat ' a, and one in which most of the city's residents are implicated as either, or often both donors and receivers. Simultaneously, the relentless work involved in operating the city's piped water supply is carried out by a large pool of volunteers or very low and irregularly paid labourers, who often live in neighbourhoods that are not even served by this water system. This article argues that water sharing constitutes an essential practice facilitating the circulation of water and infrastructure making in this city as well as a political act through which people support and resist particular water regimes. It also highlights how volunteers for the water utility sustain a social infrastructure that facilitates not only the circulation of water but also career, training, income and networking opportunities. In this way, this paper contributes to debates concerning the variety of infrastructural and urban governance configurations emerging in small cities, and the forces shaping service delivery in these urban centres. It also raises questions concerning the value of international development investments in water supply and the multiple unexpected possibilities emerging from these.

Automated summary

This paper explores the practice of water sharing and volunteering in Bafat'a, Guinea-Bissau. The study finds that most residents of the small city are involved in water sharing as both donors and receivers. Additionally, the operation of the piped water supply relies on a large pool of volunteers or low-paid laborers, who often live in areas without access to this water system. The paper argues that water sharing is not only crucial for the circulation of water and infrastructure in the city, but also serves as a political act and support for or resistance against certain water regimes. It also highlights the role of water utility volunteers in sustaining a social infrastructure and providing career, training, income, and networking opportunities.