This Resource Center curates the growing number of publications and resources that highlight the effectiveness of small water enterprises. This is a step toward building a community of practice that harnesses the know-how, market knowledge, and resources needed to improve and scale small water enterprises globally. We value the sharing of information, and invite you to e-mail us with any materials you believe will be helpful to others.
Water Essentials
The Untapped Potential of Decentralized Solutions to Provide Safe, Sustainable Drinking Water at Large Scale
Dalberg Jan. 2017
This report argues that new approaches are needed to achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 by 2030. Through the analysis of 14 different small water enterprises, the report uncovers bottlenecks to scale and sustainability.
Sustainable Supply of Safe Drinking Water for Underserved Households in Kenya: Investigating the Viability of Decentralized Solutions
Cherunya, P., Janezic, C., Leuchner, M.
Open Access Water, Vol 7, 5437-5457
Oct. 2015
This study compares user preference and perception of water quality and water provision services in underserved communities in Kenya. Most households consume water from multiple sources and perceive their drinking water to be unclean. They are aware of water treatment methods, but treat irregularly.
Microbiological Contamination of Drinking Water Associated with Subsequent Child Diarrhea
Luby, S., Halder, A., Huda, T., Unicomb, L., Islam, M., Arnold, B., Johnston, R.
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 93 904-911
Oct. 2015
The study assesses the relationship between microbiological contamination of drinking water and incidence of child diarrhea. Increase in E.coli contamination shows an increase in prevalence of child diarrhea, showing the importance of improved microbiological quality of drinking water for health.
Analysis of Accessibility to Water Supply and Sanitation Services in the Awutu-Senya East Municipality, Ghana
Peprah, C., Oduro-Ofori, E., Asante-Wusu, I.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology,
Sep. 2015
Awutu-Senya East Municipality receives the majority of their water from private suppliers, and some from public systems. Most of this water is salty, and contaminated. Private suppliers have unregulated prices. Additionally, sanitation is poor across the municipality with no regulation.
It is very difficult to assess what contributes the largest burden to diarrhea: food-borne, water-borne, or other transmission routes. Incidence of diarrhea and water quality in the house were assessed, and concluded that water is not the largest contributor to diarrhea.
Interventions to Improve Water Quality for Preventing Diarrhea (Review)
Arienzo, A., Sobze, M., Wadoum, R., Losito, F., Colizzi, V., Antonini, G.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Sep. 2015
This study tests the effectiveness of the microbiological survey for accuracy in testing the microbiological quality of water. The evaluation of total coliforms in 1mL of water was used as a parameter. Field tests were done in Cameroon in different wells, confirming MBS as an accurate measure.
One in six people live in water-stressed conditions due to poor water availability and accessibility, high water tariffs, poor water quality, over extraction of sources, etc. Governments, corporations, NGOs and agencies have taken action to reduce the number of underserved populations.
Impact at scale requires working within the context of a broader ecosystem and adjusting behaviors in response to change within that system. Six lessons from a large-scale, cross-sector initiative to improve education show the differences between traditional programmatic and ecosystem investing.
The Doer and the Payer: A Simple Approach to Scale
Starr, K., and Hattendorf, L.
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Aug. 2015
Impact at scale requires working within the context of a broader ecosystem and adjusting behaviors in response to change within that system. Six lessons from a large-scale, cross-sector initiative to improve education show the differences between traditional programmatic and ecosystem investing.
This impact assessment report, created by Safe Water Network and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on behalf of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), evaluates the impact of BHEL-funded iJal Safe Water Stations (using reverse osmosis treatment technology and equipped with a remote monitoring system) built in ten villages in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra, India.
Water Quality Monitoring in Developing Countries: Can Microbial Fuel Cells be the Answer?
Chouler, J., Lorenzo, M.
University of Bath
Jul. 2015
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has the potential to rapidly test quality of water, and is simple to use. It has the potential of being highly-cost effective, ability of on-site and real time monitoring. Most other chemical and biological methods have none of these advantages.