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Sustainable Management and Finance of Rural Water Supplies

Tap stand in Malawi
Tap stand in Malawi
Posted April 19th, 2018 by Andrew Armstrong.

Poor functionality of rural water supplies is a known and critical crisis. It is estimated that almost 15 percent of rural waterpoints fail after just one year and 25 percent are non-functional by their fourth year in operation.[1] Although there are many root causes of this, they cumulatively manifest themselves in the form of inadequate financing for ongoing operation and maintenance. One method, which takes a social business approach to water service delivery, is becoming known as the “safe water enterprise” model. Under this approach, private water service providers deliver water to end users for a fee and utilize ... Read More

Set up for Success: Transitioning Project Ownership

Safe Water Committee in Uganda
Safe Water Committee in Uganda
Posted April 11th, 2018 by Jeanna Walls.

For a safe water project, the transition from being managed by Water Mission to being managed by the recipient community is the last step of a successful implementation. With more than 2,400 projects now being overseen by local Safe Water Committees (SWCs), Water Mission has a lot of experience with transferring project responsibilities. At the same time, a commitment to excellence pushes the organization to constantly improve the process. One foundational belief that has shaped Water Mission’s implementation approach is that community investment and commitment to a project directly correlate to long-term sustainability. When community members embrace ownership, it indicates that ... Read More

Investing in Relationships: 2018 Indonesia Workshop

2018 Indonesia Workshop
2018 Indonesia Workshop
Posted April 5th, 2018 by Mackenzie Schiff.

Water Mission routinely organizes learning workshops for staff to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement across global programs. Purposefully calling these “workshops” rather than “trainings,” Water Mission aims to emphasize the importance of two-way conversation. Charleston staff members attend to share updates from headquarters, gain insights from the field, and facilitate conversations focused on best practices. In January, staff from Charleston and Indonesia gathered for an engineering and community development workshop. They presented updates on strategy, global standards, innovations in engineering, and community development processes. At a breakout session, the group discussed complex obstacles and potential solutions for a few specific ... Read More

Building Financial Sustainability

Financial sustainability is crucial to the success of Water Mission's safe water treatment system.
Financial sustainability is crucial to the success of Water Mission's safe water treatment system.
Posted April 19th, 2017 by Mike Staub.

How does Water Mission plan for the long-term success of our safe water projects? How do we ensure that the essential life-giving water treatment equipment stays in operation for the next generation? In more technical lingo, what is Water Mission’s sustainability plan? Read More

IBM Brings Data Insight for Safe Water Sustainability

A family in Tanzania walk with buckets of water on their heads.
A family in Tanzania walk with buckets of water on their heads.
Posted April 5th, 2017 by Kristen Check.

Around the world, an estimated 1.8 billion people lack access to safe water[1]. In addition, 2.4 billion people lack basic sanitation[2], and 842,000 people die every year from water-related diseases[3]. Access to water is important, but access alone is not enough. In the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, the United Nations recently extended its focus beyond accessibility to sustainability and service (SDG 6), prioritizing universal and equitable access to safe water and sanitation for all. Water Mission, on the other hand, has actually spent the past 16 years making these priorities a reality. Read More