This report presents on the main findings drawn from an FAO-organised workshop on the application of MASSMUS (mapping systems and services for multiple uses) in the Shanxi province (14-23 June 2010). With a focus on the Fenhe irrigation district, the report provides interesting insight into the application of MASSMUS and uncovers new facets in MUS by incorporating discussions in urban ecosystems and the watering of recreational parks. It validates the importance of MUS in contributing to district revenues, and highlights MUS as a practise integrated in the formal operational management of the irrigation's district. A second MASSMUS workshop is planned to take place in South China in September.

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Este libro, la traducción de "Climbing the water ladder" explica como los usos múltiples de agua (MUS) - un estudio realizado en ocho pasies - son los más apropiados para satisfacer las necesidades de las personas.

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Edited by RIchard Carter, this Waterlines journal is a special issue dedicated to the topic of multiple-use services. It compiles the reasearch work of various members of the MUS group spanning the countries of Honduras to Nepal. Overall, the journal offers insight into the signficance and need to institutionalise MUS, and encourages further research and practise of the approach.

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This e-resource succinctly captures the lessons learnt from an SADC (Southern African Development Community) Danida-supported integrated water resource management (IWRM) programme. Also referred to as 'community-scale MUS', the e-resource provides step-by-step guidelines on how to implement local IWRM at the community level using participatory approaches. It also offers several innovative IWRM approaches that depart from conventional single-use approaches for implementation.

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As part of its on-going commitment towards enhancing and raising awarenes on the significance of a multiple use of water systems (MUS) approach, FAO is currently undertaking research on MASSMUS (Mapping Systems and Services for Multiple Uses) auditing select large irrigation systems in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China and India. This research study investigates the extent and management of an MUS approach in existing irrigation systems to offer insight into improving and/or promoting current practise. Full reports on these audits are available at the dedicated FAO MUS webpage.

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The Water Research Commission in South Africa commissioned this study on the productive use of domestic piped water in South Africa. This report presents the findings of this work, indicating amongst others how much water is used for these purposes and the types of uses this water is put to.

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This video documentation presents on Winrock's work on MUS in Niger. It may be viewed in your tube and is also available in French at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKQaAmlYJP8

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Last year, RAS-HON (the water and sanitation network of Honduras) and IRC undertook a study into the use of rural water supply systems for multiple-use. As a follow-up to the study, an interest was raised to develop approaches for multiple-use in the planning and design of rural water supply systems. In response to this, the Worldbank-funded PIR (Rural Infrastructure Programme) will test multiple-use services provision in a programmatic approach.

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Following the conclusion of the MUS Symposium, four organisations applied to partake as core members of the MUS Group. We are pleased to announce that the application of all four have been gladly and unanimously accepted. We therefore welcome the following new core partners: Challenge Programme Water and Food, Rain Foundation, Stockholm Environment Institute and the World Fish Centre. A short profile on each organisation may be found at http://www.musgroup.net/page/274.

If your organisation is also interesed to participate in the MUS group as a core member, we invite you to visit the MUS group's governance rules, roles and responsibilities at http://www.musgroup.net/page/738.

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Multiple-use services are not new to Nepal. Actually, one cannot speak to anybody from the water sector in Nepal who has not seen a community already applying gravity water supply schemes for both domestic and productive uses. However, a structured approach to multiple-use services has only been around for a few years. A number of organizations (WaterAid Nepal, NEWAH, Concern International and IDE) from the Nepali water sector are now reviving a platform to discuss issues of multiple-use services, and share experiences.

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