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This section compiles publications, case studies and reports that put a spotlight on the issue of multiple use water supply systems and/or services. It offers a glimpse of the field work and research findings of MUS members and pertinent information and analyses produced by other stakeholders in the WASH sector.
The Andes contained two research sites. In Bolivia, focus was on community-initiated water services in peri-urban areas of the Cochabamba valley, as well as on the support by a resource centre to these initiatives. The work in Colombia centered in the Quindio and Valle del Cauca departments around the de facto use of piped water supply systems for multiple purposes. All outputs are available in Spanish, with English summaries. Some key outputs have been translated into English.
This article contains the experiences of three learning groups, from Bolivia, India and Mali, in joint reflection and learning about integrated water management.
Entitled Household (HH)-level productive uses of water around Cochabamba, Bolivia, this case study examines household level productive uses of water in Bolivia focusing on two key areas:
The case study was carried out around the rapidly growing city of Cochabamba in central Bolivia. The study areas were Tarata, a small town to the south-east, and Tiquipaya, which is located on the peri-urban fringes of the city.
This thesis report studies the water balance in a MUS system in Colombia. It shows amongst others the importance of identifying different strata of users in the system, as these have different consumption patterns. Using the water balance concept, it shows the relative importance of water supply from the system and greenwater for different domestic and productive uses.
IRP A915875 sept 7.pdf (4.1 MB)
Entitled 'Recognizing reality: multiple use of rural water supply systems', this case study documents the experience of some areas of Cali in meeting the multiple demand for water in rural areas.
Read more or download cinara.pdf (202.0 kB)
The RAIN Foundation submitted a request for technical assistance on the inclusion of MUS in their rainwater harvesting programme in Ethiopia. RiPPLE, through the HCS, provided such support and recommended the programme to include water for livestock.
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.
Is something missing from your work in water supply? Do individuals and communities that you work with use their water supplies for multiple purposes? Are you challenged by how to help the poor gain access to water (beyond 'traditional' domestic or field-scale irrigation needs) for activities that generate food and income like fruit and vegetable production, keeping livestock, brick-making and building, and a wide range of informal micro-enterprises? Do you search for ways to improve cost-recovery?
Full download now available
Sustained access to water in low- and middle-income countries is crucial for domestic use (drinking, personal hygiene, etc.) and is also an imperative for people's livelihoods, income-generating activities and small-scale enterprise (e.g. livestock, horticulture, irrigation, fisheries, brickmaking, and othes). Overall, this book exposes the detrimental effects and impacts of approaching water services in isolated ways -- where the continued practise of separating community water services between domestic use and livelihoods have done little in alleviating poverty.
This paper provides a synthesis of research on multi-purpose water systems carried out under the first phase of the Challenge Program on Water and Food, and elsewhere. In addition, it provides elements to guide research in its second phase.
CPWF topic synthesis paper Multi-purpose_Water_Systems[1].pdf (404.1 kB)
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