Productive uses of domestic water: opportunity or threat?

This paper argues that small-scale productive uses of water such as for garden irrigation, keeping livestock, post-harvest crop processing and other micro-enterprises should receive better consideration in the planning of domestic water supply systems. Currently opportunities are being lost to maximize the impacts on poverty alleviation of improvements in water supply, and sustainability is undermined by failing to address the productive needs of users. An agenda for possible policy change, implementation actions and further research is included based upon the outcomes of an earlier international symposium.