To improve methodology and practice for the development of sustainable rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) programmes in groundwater dependent areas.

Meetings

The 3rd Co-ordination Meeting was held on 21st March at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. The meeting discussed progress, outline proposals for the guidelines, and the preparations for the pilot studies. Various informal meetings have also been held during the period.

Literature review

Apart from searching the Resources Centre at WEDC, publications have been obtained from the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Labour Organisation. A draft Review of the Literature on the analysis and content of programmes has been completed (a copy is attached to this report). The review of the hydrogeological and hydrological aspects of the project is continuing.

Preparation of guidelines

This has been started and an outline showing 7 steps has been proposed. The outline is appended to this report. A draft framework for the technical inputs has been prepared.

Pilot studies

A questionnaire was prepared to gather basic information on water supplies and groundwater in order to select the countries for the field work. Together with an information sheet on the project, these were sent out to Commonwealth countries through the Commonwealth Science Council in December 1996.

Tel: 01509 222885
Fax: 01509 211079
Email: WEDC@lboro.ac.uk