Sustainability

According to Global Water Challenge, sustainability is one of the most pressing issues facing the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sector today. More than 30 percent of WASH projects fail after two to five years. Resources available to help address this challenge include guidance on operations and maintenance approaches, tools to estimate long-term costs, and other resources to support sustainability.

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Sustainability Resources

Models of Management Systems for the Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities

Published: 
February 1, 1993
U.S. Agency for International Development
This report considers the many issues and actors that influence the development of operations and maintenance management systems for rural water supply and sanitation facilities in developing countries. It describes models in eight representative countries and offers guidance to planners and...Read more
Regional focus: 
United States

Lessons Learned in Water, Sanitation and Health: Thirteen Years of Experience in Developing Countries

Published: 
January 1, 1993
U.S. Agency for International Development
Twenty lessons learned from the 13 years (1980-1993) of field work in the Water and Sanitation for Health (WASH) project are distilled in this report. in regard to TA, WASH teaches that: effective TA focuses on building local institutions by transferring sustainable skills; an active information...Read more

Sustainability Assessment for the Benin Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project

Published: 
August 1, 1992
U.S. Agency for International Development
The sustainability of the Benin Rural Water and Sanitation Project, scheduled for completion 9/92, is assessed. The project has successfully constructed wells and demonstration latrines; provided training to village health committees, government extension workers, and pump repair workers; and...Read more
Regional focus: 
BeninSub-Saharan Africa

Institutionalizing Community Management: Processes for Scaling Up

Published: 
May 1, 1992
U.S. Agency for International Development
The issue of sustainability of water and sanitation projects has emphasized different areas at different times. Initially, the focus of the sector was strictly technical and focused onengineering. At another point, the emphasis was seen as primarily an institutional question. More recently, the...Read more

Lessons Learned from the WASH Project: Ten Years of Water and Sanitation Experience in Developing Countries

Published: 
January 1, 1990
U.S. Agency for International Development
Some 10 years of experience in water supply and sanitation (WS&S) projects in 60 countries under USAID's Water and Sanitation for Health (WASH) Project are distilled into "lessons learned" in this report. The lessons -- 19 general lessons and 52 more specific ones -- are...Read more

Development of an Operations and Maintenance Strategy for Rural Water Supply in Zaire: Phase I Report

Published: 
May 1, 1989
U.S. Agency for International Development
In February 1989, the Water and Sanitation for Health (WASH) Project received a request for assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to the Republic of Zaire regarding operations and maintenance in rural water supply (RWS). This report contains the findings of...Read more
Regional focus: 
Congo, Democratic Republic of theSub-Saharan Africa

Upgrading Maintenance of Village Water Systems -- Start Up Report

Published: 
December 1, 1988
U.S. Agency for International Development
The purpose of this start-up report is to outline the approach to meeting the requirement of Tasks g. 5 (i), (ii), and (iii) of the USAID Contract No. 263-0182-C-8041-00 dated 23rd February, 1988. The main focus of these tasks are to improve the O&M of water systems in Egyptian villages...Read more
Regional focus: 
Egypt, Arab Rep.Middle East and North Africa

Evaluation of Operation and Maintenance Interventions: Cairo Sewerage I Project

Published: 
November 1, 1988
U.S. Agency for International Development
Evaluates project to improve Cairo's wastewater system through rehabilitation of the primary collection system, training of operation and maintenance staff, and development of expansion plans. Ex post external evaluation covers the period through 11/88. The project improved Cairo's...Read more
Regional focus: 
Egypt, Arab Rep.Middle East and North Africa

Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply Systems in Developing Countries: a Cost Study

Published: 
January 1, 1988
U.S. Agency for International Development
A cost study on the operation and maintenance of water supply systems in developing countries. The issue of potable water supplies in developing countries has received increased attention during recent decades. Numerous water development projects have been established, most recently in response to...Read more

Training of Community Operators in Operations and Maintenance for Rural Potable Water Systems

Published: 
February 1, 1987
U.S. Agency for International Development
An 8-day training course on operations and maintenance (O&M) of rural potable water systems was conducted for 20 community operators and 30 community council members in Paracaya, Bolivia, early in l987. In the course - the last phase of the assistance provided to the Department of...Read more
Regional focus: 
BoliviaLatin America and the Caribbean

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