Water is one of the four sub-sectors under Engineering Department, which falls under Works and Technical Services committee of Lira District Local Government.
The water and sanitation sector is one of the priority areas of the Government of Uganda where adequate clean and safe water is considered to be a vehicle for social and economic development hence poverty reduction. Water and sanitation contributes to the achievement of governments pillar 3 (increased incomes of the poor) and pillar 4 (improved quality of life of the poor) of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). However, the sector has reverted back to the Community Department for mobilisation since this post was scrapped off in the recent restructuring programme.
The sub-sector works closely together with other sub-sectors especially Health and Education. The sector also works closely with Community Development including extension staffs at the sub-counties.

Overview
The District has mainly ground water potentials with some streams which feed Lake Kwania for example, Olweny Stream.
There are cases of Water related diseases e.g. Bilharzias along the valley dam areas, Diarrhoea, Skin and Eye infections district wide.
There are 2215 existing safe water sources out of which 971 are protected springs, 639 are boreholes and 605 are shallow wells which are installed with UII and UIII hand pumps.
Rainwater tanks were also distributed to primary schools, there are 10 tanks for distribution to primary schools .There are also 42 dams and 26 valley tanks. The valley tanks and dams are for livestock. The majority of the dams and valley tanks are in a dilapidated state and the larger part of, for instance, the dams are silted up. Only 30 percent of them are fully utilised. Maintenance of these facilities is poor; 60% of them are reported to receive no maintenance.
The district water coverage is currently at 64 percent and the functionality rate of all the water sources stands at 77.4%. This statistics is got from the district water database with data collected by COOPI and funded by UNICEF.

Staffing
The sub-sector is well manned by a team of qualified and devoted staffs as indicated in the present staffing position below:

Senior Engineer (Water) 1
Senior Assistant Engineering Officer (Water) 1
Assistant Engineering Officer 2
Borehole maintenance Technician 1
Office Typist 1
Driver 1

POCC Analysis
This is an analysis of the Potential, Opportunities, Constraints and Challenges in the water sub-sector.
Potential
– Its one of the Priority Programmes Areas under National Development Plan (NDP).
– It has a team of qualified, committed and experienced staff.
– Many CSOs and NGOs are dealing in the sub-sector.
– Linkages with other sectors are well developed.
– By law the sub-sector is empowered to manage water resources in the district.
– Trained WSC within the communities

Opportunities
– Some CSOs and NGOs are linking with the sub-sector.
– Trained pump mechanics at the sub county level.
– Policy of CBMS in place.
– Communities appreciate and highly value safe water close to their homes.

Constraints
– Negative attitudes of the communities towards community contribution.
– There are other fake CSOs and NGOs who are more of contractors than CSO.
– Inadequate funding Visa Vi the high demand for safe water by the community.
– Poor use and maintenance of water facilities by the communities.

Challenges
– Low potential of ground water in other areas that dictates the type of technology to be used.
– The quality of ground water in other areas e.g. salty water affecting pump parts.
– High demand for safe and clean water might put a big burden on this scarce resource.