Developing and Managing Community Water Supplies

Abstract

This book on the development and management of community water supplies provides field experience primarily from Ghana and Ethiopia during 1986-92 and lessons learned from community water supply programs (CWSPs); and aims to provide guidance to program managers senior extension and technical staff of community groups external support agencies nongovernmental organizations and government agencies supporting CWSPs. Guidelines are provided for planning and managing fieldwork training community members and program staff and preparing program proposals. Chapters specifically address issues of environmental health partnerships program planning proposal preparation project implementation management of community water supplies and planning evaluations. Each chapter closes with references for additional reading. The appendices identify major international or organizational centers for information distribution. This book refers to programs as the framework for implementation of individual projects. Planning begins from the preliminary stage to a more detailed planning stage. Projects may be community initiated or agency stimulated. The information gathering stage is a learning process for the community and agency. Time allocated to information gathering must be balanced with the urgency of the need the cost of information gathering and the willingness of the community. Baseline information provides a measure for comparisons at a later date. Informal methods are useful such as community mapping or Participatory Rapid Appraisal.