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

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

Training of Trainers in Operations and Maintenance for Rural Potable Water Systems in Bolivia

Published: 
January 1, 1987
U.S. Agency for International Development
At the request of USAID/Bolivia, WASH project consultants conducted a two-week training-of-trainers' workshop in operations & maintenance in Chochabamba, Bolivia, from November 24 - December 5, 1986. This report provides an overview and lessons learned on the workshop.Read more
Regional focus: 
BoliviaLatin America and the Caribbean

Training in Operations and Maintenance for Pumps in Rural Water Systems in Bolivia

Published: 
September 1, 1986
U.S. Agency for International Development
After visiting the water pumps in Bolivia, the recommendations include: -USAID should continue to support the critical development of operations and maintain efforts in DSA. -DSA should provide supervisors with the necessary equipment and tools, information and support they need to carry out their...Read more
Regional focus: 
BoliviaLatin America and the Caribbean

Development of an Operation and Maintenance System for Shaba Refugee Water Supply Project

Published: 
June 1, 1986
U.S. Agency for International Development
This report covers the development of an operation and maintenance system for Shaba refugee water supply project. The Shaba Refugee Water Supply Project was designed in September 1984 by USAID/Zaire in collaboration with the Association Internationale de Developpement Rural (AIDR), A Belgian...Read more
Regional focus: 
Congo, Democratic Republic of theSub-Saharan Africa

Maintenance of Basic Village Services Project Water Supply Equipment

Published: 
August 1, 1985
U.S. Agency for International Development
From October through December 1984, thirteen Egyptian engineers participated in management and technical training in the United States. The technical component of the training was conducted by a team of engineers provided by the Water and Sanitation for Health (WASH) Project. The Egyptian engineers...Read more
Regional focus: 
Egypt, Arab Rep.Middle East and North Africa

Workshop Design for Handpump Installation and Maintenance: a Training Guide

Published: 
June 1, 1984
U.S. Agency for International Development
A detailed guide is presented on conducting a workshop to teach Third World workers the technical and community development skills needed to organize, implement, and maintain village-based water hand pump projects. The workshop, which employs the A.I.D. Mark II hand pump as a model, consists of 19...Read more

Guidelines for Human Resource Development Planning in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector

Published: 
October 1, 1983
U.S. Agency for International Development
Only 22% of rural populations have access to reasonably safe water and 15% to sanitary excreta facilities. 77% of the urban population have access to piped water and 75% to sanitary excreta facilities. The UN Water Conference recommended national development policies and plans where appropriate to...Read more

Operating and Maintaining Aqua Privies

Published: 
January 1, 1982
U.S. Agency for International Development
An aqua privy is an underground watertight vault filled with water that receives excreta and wash water from a drop-pipe, allows solids to settle to the bottom, and discharges effluent to a soakage pit. Maintaining a aqua privy involves keeping the liquid level at the flow line, cleaning the slab...Read more

Maintaining Small Dams

Published: 
January 1, 1982
U.S. Agency for International Development
This technical note discusses what measures should be taken to maintain a dam effectively.Read more

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