Economic costs of handpump corrosion in rural water supply systems in Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Handpump corrosion poses a major sustainability challenge for rural drinking water supply in Cameroon. This cross-sectional economic assessment analysed functionality data from 20,572 handpumps across 310 municipalities (2010–2022), combined with cost evaluation methods adapted from industrialized contexts. Corrosion accounts for 15–20% of handpump failures, representing 7.85–8.9 billion FCFA (11.7–13.3 million USD) in immobilized capital. An estimated 470,800 rural residents lose access to safe water due to corrosion, generating annual indirect costs of 2.52 billion FCFA (3.77 million USD), largely from health impacts. Regional disparities are pronounced, with the Far North, Centre, and North regions concentrating 51% of total costs. Life-cycle cost analysis shows that corrosion-resistant materials achieve 57% savings over 20 years despite 27% higher upfront costs. Preventive strategies based on groundwater chemistry could reduce corrosion-related costs by 40–60%, highlighting the need for national quality standards and life-cycle-based procurement.