Within the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the management
of centralized water reticulation in Zambia. Characterized by diversified
fiscal resourcing, concurrent institutional restructuring and introduction
of new players in water governance, the water sector is set to achieve improved
reliability on sustainable grounds. However, the threat of underground
water pollution resulting from increased urbanization besides the unreliable
energy sector presents new challenges for the current urban water. In effect,
urban areas are affected by chronic water rationing creating public stress and
insecurity which impacts domestic development. While the course of development
has meant investment in the extension and expansion of water infrastructure
in Zambia, alternative urban water resources are being sought to
address challenges of traditional water systems globally. This paper therefore
attempts to make a case for the modernization of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
(RRWH) as an augmenting water resource in the Zambian urban
housing sector. Here—in, it is identified as a Low Impact Development technology
within the Integrated Urban Water Management framework currently
being forged by local water. Based on a desktop literature survey and online
questionnaire survey, an argument to support the development of RRWH in
Zambia was developed. While literature survey results revealed evidence of
economic loss and a growing compromise to public health resulting from inconsistent
water supply in the study area of Lusaka city, the online questionnaire
survey depicted significant domestic stress due to erratic water supply.
Results confirmed that at one time residents observed an average of eight
hours of power blackouts which effectively induced water disruption forcing
homeowners to engage in various water storage methods which in turn arecostly on domestic time, health and finances. A retrospective discussion based
on both survey results attempts to present benefits and opportunities of urban
RRWH to water sector stakeholders providing recommendations towards the
mainstreaming of the practice in Zambia.