Models of management systems for the operation and maintenance of rural water supply and sanitation facilities

It provides case examples from eight representative countries where various O&M models are in effect: Botswana, Yemen, Sudan, Belize, Tunisia, Indonesia, Benin, and Costa Rica. The report offers recommendations for the most effective operation and maintenance of WSS facilities. Key conclusions are: (1) involving the community in WSS decisionmaking is essential for effective O&M; (2) the choice of technologies must be congruent with local economic conditions; (3) training in management techniques is usually a necessary component of community-managed facilities; (4) willingness to pay for rural WSS facilities is complex and variable, but individuals usually will be eager to pay for water, but reluctant to pay for sanitation; (5) spare parts supply, rather than the availability of mechanical skills, is usually a major problem in O&M; (6) despite increasing emphasis on community control, decentralization, and private sector involvement, there will always be a role for government WSS agencies, at least to monitor and assess the effectiveness of management arrangements; (7) government extension agents are a critical communication link between the government and the communities; and (8) strong national leadership is needed to build popular confidence in the wisdom and equity of WSS and O&M policy. (Author abstract, modified)