{"id":245965,"date":"2025-06-12T10:27:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/?p=245965"},"modified":"2025-06-12T10:27:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:27:36","slug":"what-makes-a-water-project-sustainable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/2025\/06\/12\/what-makes-a-water-project-sustainable\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes a water project sustainable?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We get this question a lot at The Water Project, and maybe you\u2019re scratching your head right now wondering the same thing. We could give you answers like, \u201cWe only contract with reputable builders,\u201d or \u201cWe strive to use only the best materials,\u201d \u2014 which technically are both true \u2014 but the complete answer is actually more complex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that a single water point \u2014 a well, a rain tank, or any other type of water project \u2014 just isn\u2019t a long-term solution for any community, and for that reason, we always develop a more comprehensive plan before starting a project. So, today, we\u2019re going to respond to a slightly different question: \u201cWhat makes a water system<\/strong><\/a> sustainable?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why a water system? What even is a water system?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we donate to provide safe water access in sub-Saharan Africa, maybe we imagine installing one well per community, enlisting all the local stakeholders to care for that well, and calling it good. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Kenyan police officers attend a handing-over ceremony for a new borehole well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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But if that one water source breaks down, community members could be left with their previous unsafe water options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first entered the water access sector, I believed sustainability was primarily about infrastructure that lasts<\/strong>,\u201d said The Water Project\u2019s Director of Program, Spencer Bogle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the well didn’t dry up or the pump kept working, it was a success. But years of fieldwork have taught me that sustainability is about <\/strong>community buy-in<\/strong><\/a> and reliable systems<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is <\/em>a water system? In our service area, this can be difficult to envision; what it definitely isn\u2019t<\/em> is the interconnected network of pipes and sewer lines that most of us are familiar with.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, said Spencer, \u201cIt\u2019s about people knowing how to manage, maintain, and advocate for their own water access \u2014 not just for today, but for generations. It is about the ways people use water within their daily lives \u2014 in school, healthcare, finances, and government \u2014 and monitoring and maintenance systems.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every sip of dirty water is a risk. Sometimes, that single sip is all it takes for someone to get seriously ill. This is why we should think of water as an interwoven network of safe water sources<\/strong> \u2014 and not narrow our concern to the fate of each individual source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSustainable access to water is complex,\u201d Spencer said. \u201cMost people use multiple water sources daily. That insight has reshaped how we think about projects \u2014 not as isolated installations, but as integral parts of a community\u2019s larger water ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why don\u2019t governments provide sustainable water utilities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, they do \u2014 sometimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your tap stopped working, you’d expect a utility to send someone to fix it. But in the places where we work, governments simply can\u2019t extend that kind of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the areas we serve, the local government often builds a utility grid and offers paid services. However, a system like this in the places we work invariably serves only the wealthy, and not the people we aim to help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That’s not an option,” Spencer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The populations we serve don’t live within reach of established utilities, and their governments don’t have the capacity to extend them. So, we build a similar utility \u2014 one that doesn’t rely on the community members’ ability to pay expensive fees \u2014 from the ground up.<\/p>\n\n\n

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An example of how we build new water sources to supplement existing ones. This is a map of our Western Kenya service area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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We do this through a network of sustainable water access points. We commit to monitoring, community engagement, and establishing responsibility. We answer questions like, “Who do community members call when it breaks?” “Why did it break down?” “How do we fix it?” “How can we get people access to quality resources and mechanics?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Spencer said: “It’s not efficient or economically viable to commit to only one project.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how does one maintain a water system?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt The Water Project (TWP), we believe sustainability starts with listening and connecting with those who are closest to the problems<\/strong> that reliable water can address,\u201d Spencer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe focus geographically to maximize impact within a set budget. We commit to routine monitoring and invest in infrastructure that starts with reliable groundwater sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut most importantly, we commit to people. TWP uses two service models: Community Management (in Uganda and Southeast Kenya) and Professional Dispatch Services (in Western Kenya and Sierra Leone).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Community Management, we engage communities from the very beginning \u2014 forming Self Help Groups that link Water User Committees (WUCs) and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). These groups learn everything from water system governance to repair budgeting. They are responsible for saving money for repairs and directly contacting local mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Professional Dispatch areas, Water User Committees contact a TWP regional hub staffed with mechanics and engineers who respond quickly to breakdowns \u2014 often within 24 hours. This approach ensures rapid technical support while maintaining community trust.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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Field Officer Betty Muhongo trains community members on how to maintain their newly protected spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\u201cUltimately, sustainable water systems require access to quality construction, quality parts, and long-term financial support<\/strong>, ideally in the form of communities who are willing and able to pay for services to keep the water running.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, the only way to know if the work is effective is to monitor. We have developed a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Resolution, and Learning department that allows us to see when things break down and how we can improve design, training, and issue response.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSustainability of WASH services is the central premise of global WASH efforts.\u201d<\/em> (UN WASH Accountability for Sustainability Programme<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monitoring and maintenance aren\u2019t just good practice \u2014 they are the very heart<\/a> of ensuring water systems remain safe and reliable for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who else needs to be involved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur focus on full water coverage aligns with national, county, and district development plans,\u201d Spencer explained. \u201cWe\u2019ve formalized these partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), which help build credibility and ensure alignment with broader public sector efforts. Local government officials often become invaluable partners in long-term support.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one of our longest-standing relationships is with the local governments in our Western Kenya service area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Water Project program, I would say, has played a major, crucial role in our county,\u201d said Dr. Wilber Ottichilo, Governor of Vihiga County in Western Kenya.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Wilber Ottichilo is center front. Also in this photo, from left, are: Spencer Bogle (quoted in this article), Stan Patyrak (President & CEO of The Water Project), Wilberforce Kitiezo (Deputy Governor of Vihiga County), Meshack Mulongo (County Executive Committee Member). Back row: Noel Malanda (Chief Officer of Water and Sanitation – County Executive Committee), Humphrey Buradi (Western Kenya Regional Director of The Water Project), and James Odiero (County Executive Committee Member).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Ottichilo continued: \u201cAnd I would say The Water Project is our premium partner in this endeavor of providing water to our people<\/strong>. I’m grateful, on behalf of the people of Vihiga, to The Water Project program. I think they have done a commendable job. It’s so evident that the partnership that is existing between The Water Project and the county government is strong, and we believe that it’s going to last for so many years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Water Project have never come to impose themselves [on] our county. They have come to us, and we have sat down, and we have agreed on our priorities. Normally, many other development partners come, and they decide what they want, and in many cases, they don’t even involve the leadership<\/strong>. But in terms of The Water Project, they came to this office, so they engage the highest decision maker in the county. So, it’s been a consultative effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Water Project also engages the community. Our main principle of county government is public participation, engaging people in the decision-making process. And I believe, and I’m very happy that The [Water] Project has been very instrumental to ensure that they do public participation before the project is implemented. So that means there is ownership of the project when they leave<\/strong>. The project should be owned by the recipients, who are the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does TWP keep sustainability in mind at each project stage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mapping\/Siting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before we even think about building a new water source, we consider each community\u2019s unique water situation. For this, our water point mapping<\/a> exercises have been invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have worked together with local community leaders and officials to map public water points in each of our service areas,\u201d Spencer explained. \u201cThis allows us to see areas in need and to create networks for water points to ensure access and to make monitoring and maintenance more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When vetting a new water source, we evaluate several factors. First, we assess its current state, including its functionality, yield, and environment. A technical assessment of any existing infrastructure helps us identify issues that may make the source vulnerable to contamination or breakdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While our local teams use mapping data as a jumping-off point, they also engage deeply with communities to ensure that the water sources will meet community needs. Because mapping provides only empirical data, we also take into account the community\u2019s preferred water source, land ownership concerns, social dynamics within the community, and the environmental factors that determine which source type will be possible.<\/p>\n\n\n

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One of our field officers, Alhaji, interviews a school headmaster to map the water sources at his school in Sierra Leone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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We prioritize communities that reach out to express their need for water. Requesting support shows the kind of community ownership and organization that often makes a project even more successful in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, we test the water yield \u2014 how much water the source produces. For rain-dependent sources, such as springs, we test during the dry season when water flow is at its lowest. Finally, we conduct a sanitary inspection of the waterpoint\u2019s surroundings to identify possible sources of contamination, such as nearby latrines or farms using fertilizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mapping<\/a> an entire region\u2019s water resources informs our strategy for establishing future plans, and the local government also benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proposal & Construction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With a solid foundation of community engagement and education, we move forward with the physical implementation. Whether it\u2019s drilling a well, constructing a sand dam, or installing a rainwater catchment system, our team of experts ensures that the chosen solution is implemented with the highest standards of quality and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In many of our service areas, community members contribute to the construction of their own water points, as in the image above of these community members helping to build their new sand dam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe build for the long haul, with community input, siting to ensure reliable groundwater availability, quality materials, and trained professionals,\u201d Spencer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, we ask the community, school, or health center to contribute locally available construction materials like sand and stone to a project\u2019s construction. This helps speed up the construction process and promotes community buy-in and ownership. If people are involved in a project\u2019s construction, they may also be better able to identify issues with a water source once it\u2019s completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on project-specific construction processes, read <\/em>this blog<\/em><\/a> about the journey of a water project.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training & Handover <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCommunities receive governance and management training, hygiene and sanitation training, and water point maintenance protocols,\u201d Spencer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every water point we construct, we help establish a Water User Committee made up of local residents who will oversee and manage the water point. These committee members receive training on the proper use and maintenance of the water system and financial management (so they can collect fees for small repairs and maintenance). This ensures the community has the knowledge and resources to keep the project running independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The newly elected members of a water user committee in Sierra Leone show off their training certificates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Monitoring & Maintenance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people assume the completion of construction marks the end of our involvement. Actually, the opposite is true. In the very first quarter after a water point\u2019s installation, we return to check that the water source is still providing water \u2014 and then we come back, again and again<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur teams monitor each water point quarterly, test water quality biannually, and work to ensure that breakdowns are repaired within 72 hours,\u201d Spencer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is much more cost-effective to maintain and repair water points than to replace them. Timely maintenance can only happen when breakdowns are reported quickly, and communities will only report issues if they trust that the problem will be addressed honestly and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we identify a water point malfunction, such as a breakdown or necessary repair, our software flags the survey and we prioritize a service visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Through ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and education, we continue to support communities as they manage their water points, fostering independence and long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeyond infrastructure, we invest in relationships that sustain the work,\u201d Spencer said. \u201cCommunities contribute<\/a> to maintenance and repair either by paying into a subscription service or as needed for parts and service from a Self-Help Group fund.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does TWP help communities take ownership of their water points without burdening them with expensive service fees? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n


\u201cThe answer lies in context,\u201d Spencer said. \u201cIn some areas, community-linked savings groups pool funds specifically for repairs. In others, TWP handles the service directly, subsidizing the repair costs heavily, ensuring that systems remain functional while we work on longer-term cost-recovery models. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never one-size-fits-all, but every approach aims to empower without overburdening. We understand that people will not pay for a service until it is reliable enough for them to see the value of having consistent access to safe water.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will my gift to build a water project through TWP make a lasting difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a word? Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt TWP, we measure results, report transparently, and stay with communities long after construction ends,\u201d Spencer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are committed to relationship, reliability, and trust<\/strong> in every part of our work. We build durable systems where people, not just hardware, are the foundation<\/strong>. Because we are committed to continuous learning, communication, and collaboration to constantly improve our work, services, and relationships, we are confident that communities will flourish because of the reliable water that we provide for the long term. That\u2019s what sustainability means to us. And that\u2019s why we know the water will keep flowing<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating sustainable projects throughout Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda is only possible with the support of generous people like you. The easiest way you can boost the sustainability of our water points is to regularly support our Water Promise. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn what makes a water system\u2014not just a project\u2014sustainable, and how The Water Project ensures lasting safe water access in vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34448,"featured_media":245971,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[179,187,112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-245965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-team","category-water-and-health","category-wash"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34448"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245965"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245973,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245965\/revisions\/245973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}