Supporting Rural Water Supply

Collectively, billions of dollars have been invested in the provision of rural water supply systems in developing countries over the past three decades. Although progress is being made and rates of coverage are increasing, users often find that, once installed, water supply systems are poorly maintained and eventually break down, leaving them with an unreliable and disrupted water supply. Supporting Rural Water Supply takes a critical look and asks why we have been unable to provide a sustainable water service to rural people for so long? What are the critical success factors in the areas where there has been good progress? How can we support the adoption of a service delivery approach to rural water supply – one that moves beyond implementing infrastructure projects to delivering a reliable and indefinite service? This book brings together findings from 13 country studies which were carried out as part of a global learning initiative – Sustainable Services at Scale, or Triple-S. It offers insights into ways countries and individual organisations can move towards a service delivery approach step by step. Published in association with IRC.

Harold Lockwood is the director of the UK consulting firm Aguaconsult, and is an expert in water supply and sanitation with over twenty years of international experience.

Stef Smits is a Senior Programme Officer at IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre in The Netherlands, with over 10 years’ experience working on rural water supply, especially the sustainability of services.