PATOS, ALBANIA    To assist local governments in effectively managing water supply services and ensure that their operation is line with EU and environmental standards, USAID partner Tetra-Tech delivered an Action Plan on October 10 to improve service delivery and monitor customer satisfaction of irrigation and drainage services that the municipality of Patos provides to its citizens; 60% of whom live on and operate farms and whose their livelihoods depend on well-functioning systems.
 
The Action Plan provides Patos with no-cost or low-cost, practical ways to improve water service delivery, including preparing a database of farm properties, an inventory of the municipalities assets in the water system, and the key areas for cleaning the system to improve the flow and drainage of water.  

Overall, the plan is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of farm families in Patos, as improved irrigation and drainage services will boost local agricultural production, generate more revenues for farmers, and create additional jobs for citizens.

Helping Patos develop the Action Plan is part of USAID's Planning Local Governance Project that assists local governments to effectively manage and oversee jointly-owned utility companies dealing with services such as water, wastewater, and solid waste management to ensure that laws, policies, procedures, and services are consistent with EU standards and environmental standards in particular.