Linking multiple use services and self supply principles

Multiple Use Services for water (MUS) is an approach which takes into account that people use water for multiple purposes, which can bring them multiple benefits. Self supply is an approach to water supply which concentrates intervention and management at household or small group level. A paper by Marieke Adank prepared for the 5th Rural Water supply Network Forum in Ghana in November 2006, explores the links between multiple use services and self supply approaches through cases from Nicaragua and Zimbabwe. The first case illustrates the influence multiple uses had on the wide uptake and sustainability of rope pumps in Nicaragua. The main reason for cited for high social acceptance and wide uptake was that the rope pump provided an opportunity for irrigation and watering livestock, making rope pump production economically viable. The second, presents the case of family wells in Zimbabwe, where household owned wells are commonly used to serve multiple purposes. The paper finally explores opportunities and challenges of MUS through self supply, such as water quality issues, reaching the poorest and its scalability.