Water source options

WaterAid's Water source options poster rates different water supply technology options in relation to their relative capital cost, operational cost, water quantity supplied and water quality supplied.

The poster also provides information on the situations in which certain water supply technologies are most applicable.

Levels of appropriateness are color-coded based on different combinations of the above variables.

You can download it here:

Water source options poster (PDF 92.73KB)

WaterAid makes use of a wide range of water supply technologies. Choices are made based on:

  • The needs of the community
  • Available water sources 
  • Local financial conditions 
  • Local geographical conditions 
  • Local availability of materials for construction 
  • Local availability of labor for construction 
  • Local availability of spare parts

Our partners try to ensure sustainability by training communities on the operation and maintenance of their water supply options and by using methods that are affordable for those communities to maintain.

Find out more about the technologies WaterAid uses



Women being trained as handpump mechanics in India.

Training communities on the operation and maintenance of their water supply helps ensure sustainability.

Credit: WaterAid / Marco Betti

Toilet technology flipbook

Find out about the advantages and disadvantages of a range of latrine technologies, and which ones can be used together, by selecting different options on our interactive low cost toilet technology flipbook.

View flipbook

Community participation

Communities are fully engaged in all stages of WaterAid's projects, from planning to construction through ongoing management and maintenance. 

Find out more

WaterAid America Inc., 315 Madison Avenue, Suite 2301, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: (212) 683 - 0430
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