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Books and reports

Books, reports and guidelines produced by the MUS Group.

Global: Climbing the Water Ladder - Multiple-Use Water Services for Poverty Reduction (e-book)

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.

CPWF Topic synthesis paper multi-purpose water systems

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 kB)

Multiple-use water services to advance the millennium development goals

This research report (IWMI Research Report No 98) by Barbara van Koppen, Patrick Moriarty and Eline Boelee presents results of the project “Multiple use water services” (MUS): a framework for action research.

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How water supplies can play a wider role in livelihood improvement and poverty reduction

This document looks at the broader range of uses which people allocate to their water supplies. It looks in particular at productive activities and micro-enterprises within households in villages, towns and cities in developing countries.

Beyond domestic: Case studies on poverty and productive uses of water at the household level

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?

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Linking Water Supply and Poverty Alleviation

The conventional objectives of domestic water supply projects are improved welfare and public health. However, having more water close to the home also has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits. This report sub-titled 'The impact of women’s productive use of water and time on household economy and gender relations in Banaskantha District, Gujarat, India' investigates the opportunities and impacts.