Water is recognized as a human right that “entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses”.

Water is an essential component to ensure equitable, sustainable and productive rural economies. It is required for guaranteeing food security, health and personal hygiene, as well as for agricultural production and energy supply, among others. Sustainable water management, sufficient water infrastructure and access to a safe, reliable and affordable supply of water and adequate sanitation services are key to improving rural livelihoods, expanding local economies, creating decent jobs in rural areas and across economic sectors, and maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. A failure to address issues related to water runs the risk of having negative repercussions on rural economies, livelihoods and decent work.

In rural areas, public water provision and sanitation services, as well as water infrastructures such as water collection points, pit latrines and septic tanks, are often inadequately maintained and in poor shape. In addition to this lack of services, natural water sources such as wells, pumps, and rivers are often contaminated and provide an unreliable supply. As water technologies are often designed for urban contexts, they may not take into account the specificities of rural areas in terms of energy efficiency, the use of natural treatment systems, and cultural appropriateness.

Groundwater is, by far, the most practicable choice for safe water supply. There is a wide range of low-cost groundwater extraction techniques available. In areas where groundwater is not available in adequate quantities, the next best available option for water supply is from surface water sources.

However, surface water sources are more contaminated than groundwater, which necessitates treatment of water and hence increases the costs of water supply projects. There are simple treatment methods available to provide minimal levels of treatment to produce safe water free of microbial contamination. Depending on the quality of raw water, a treatment method can be selected from a limited choice of low-cost treatment methods to achieve better water quality.

Distribution of water from a central source to the community is also an important aspect of water supply. For rural communities, distribution can be done through stand posts and yard tap connections via a branched network of pipes. 

• Safe and reliable supply of water is therefore essential for individual welfare and for community development. The first and foremost consequence of lack of safe water for community consumption is diseases. Infectious diseases, affected by the availability or the lack of protected water supply systems, may take the following forms:
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