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Sustainability of rural water services is increasingly becoming very important as water facility may become non functional after some time. Sector professional are therefore focusing on ways to have services that last (sustainable water services). This book is focused on quantifying the cost of delivering water services in piped water systems under community management. The water systems represent a mix of technologies covering single towns piped systems, multi-village piped systems; different energy source (national grid, generator, solar); water source (surface or ground water, treatment); and with different levels of water system functionality. The work is based on cost data for providing the water services from 1998 to 2008 covering capital expenditure, operational and minor maintenance expenditure and capital maintenance expenditure. The book presents and discusses the factors affecting the cost and functionality of the water systems. The book argues for the use of the service life cycle cost information in the planning, budgeting and implementation to improve sustainability of water services. The book is recommended for planners and engineers in the water sector.

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