Abstract

Community Water, Community Management is for all in the water sector who operate at the interface between communities and support organizations. Managers of water schemes and engineers alike will find a wealth of information about how people interact with their pipes and wells, what can go wrong and how others have overcome problems. Community management has become the leading concept for implementing water supply systems in rural areas in the South. In the early days it was seen as the answer to the breakdown of water supply systems and the failure of government to supply clean water. In the light of two decades of experience, this book considers the opportunities and constraints of community management in providing a service to the millions of people who need it: What factors affect community cohesion? Why do systems fail? Under what conditions is community management the most suitable model? How can support to community managed systems best be provided? What are the key actions needed to scale up community management successfully? Published in collaboration with IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre