Boosting rural economies and creating sustainable water supplies for the most difficult to reach

Reaching people in sparsely populated areas is a challenge in achieving SDG6.1. The investment per person is very high using existing community approaches and equally importantly so few users per water point cannot raise enough money to maintain it. This document tries to present an answer to: ‘How are we going to provide protected water sources to areas with low population density?’ and ‘How are we making sure these communities will be able to sustain them?’ These communities present opportunities: People in sparsely populated areas have a stronger social bond and depend on rain-fed agriculture or small scale businesses for income. If water from an easily repairable pump is used to generate income and there is no confusion about ownership then evidence shows the pump is more likely to be maintained. Money is the biggest motivator. People share water for domestic use even if the pump is privately owned.