The productive use of domestic water supplies

Updated - Thursday 25 March 2004

Patrick Moriarty (IRC) and John Butterworth (NRI) (2003)

IRC's Thematic Overview Papers (TOPs) aim to give their readers two kinds of help:

Easy access to the main principles of the topic - in this case productive uses of water - based on worldwide experiences and views of leading practitioners
Direct links to more detailed explanations and documented experiences of critical aspects of the topic on the world wide web

To find out what this TOP is about, read the Summary before you go into the document.

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Introduction

Contrary to the fondly held beliefs of many planners and engineers, large quantities of any 'domestic' water supply are used for 'non-domestic' productive purposes. People do not just drink water, or use it to wash or cook. They use it to grow crops, water livestock, produce goods, and provide services in and around the household. Traditionally the water and sanitation (WATSAN) sector has occupied itself with the former small subset of activities described as 'domestic'. The sector's aim has been to supply people with a clean, reliable, and safe supply of water with the primary goal of improving their health. More recently the goal has been extended to include the need to reduce the drudgery involved when people (usually women) have to walk long distances to collect water.

This model of domestic service provision born in and developed from the unhealthy environment of Victorian cities in Europe has been exported worldwide. It has had huge positive impacts on the wellbeing of people everywhere but some of the assumptions underlying the model are beginning to be called into question. Particularly that the water supplied to people's homes should be solely or primarily for domestic use. Yes, of course, access to safe water is crucial for health and well-being. Yes, of course this should continue to be a driving force behind the development of infrastructure. But there is potential to make even better use of water in contributing to people's wider wellbeing and livelihoods.