How can Community Managed Water Supply (CMWS) become more sustainable? Recent studies in several countries indicate that the sustainability of many CMWS is poor. As a result, their long term impact on village lives is limited. This paper presents the findings of research on the sustainability and long-term impact of a group of CMWS created by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP) in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. This project adopted a Community-Based Approach to maximize the sustainability and long-term impact of its CMWS. The research assessed the sustainability of these CMWS a decade after their completion. It used six measures to assess sustainability and examined four long-term impacts. The results are compared with studies from other countries. The influence of Community-Based Approach (CBA) on the results is discussed. Recommendations are made for changes in policies and strategies to improve the sustainability and long term impact of future CMWS in Central Asia and elsewhere.

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PMC Carl Bro (2008) Final Report of the RWSSP 2002/2008, Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2008) Community Water, Community Management, London: Practical Action Publishing.

Sun, Y., Asante, F. and Birner, R. (2010) Opportunities and Challenges of Community-Based Rural Drinking Water Supplies: An Analysis of Water and Sanitation Committees in Ghana [pdf], Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <http://www.ifpri.org/publication/opportunities-and-challenges-community-based-rural-drinking-water-supplies> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Tenaw, K. (2014) Assessment of Sustainability of Community Managed Potable Rural Water Supply Schemes/Points in Saharti-Samre Woreda [pdf], thesis, Mekelle University, Ethiopia <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/4668> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Vashneva, N.S., Kirilenko, A., Prigody, N., Kochorbaeva, Z., Choytonbaeva, A. and Grechko, E. (2014) Gender Aspects of Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation: Assessment and Concept. Bishkek: Women in Europe for a Common Future, Social Technologies Agency.

World Bank (2017) ‘Kyrgyz Republic to improve water and sanitation services, with World Bank support’ [press release], 23 June 2017 <www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/06/22/kyrgyz-republic-to-improve-water-and-sanitation-services-with-world-bank-support> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Davis, S. (2014) Guidelines for Resolution of Problems with Water Systems [pdf], Improve International <www.issuelab.org/resources/19492/19492.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Domashov, V. Korotenko, G. Gorborukova, M. Ablezova, A. Kirilenko. (2011) Baseline Assessment of Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools and Hospitals in the Northern Oblasts of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek: Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and UNICEF.

Harvey, A. (2016) ‘Steps to sustainability: a road map for WASH’, Waterlines 36(3) <https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.17-00002>.

Harvey, P. and Reed, R. (2007) ‘Community-managed water supplies in Africa: sustainable or dispensable?’ Community Development Journal 42(3): 365–78 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsl001>.

Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration, Department of Water Management, UN Economic Commission for Europe, OECD, European Union Water Initiative (2013) National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management: Results for 2008–2013 [pdf] <www.oecd.org/env/outreach/KR_NPD%20Overview.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Lockwood, H. and Smits, S. (2011) Supporting Rural Water Supply, Moving towards a Service Delivery Approach [pdf], IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Aguaconsult <www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Lockwood-2011-Supporting.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

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PMC Carl Bro (2008) Final Report of the RWSSP 2002/2008, Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2008) Community Water, Community Management, London: Practical Action Publishing.

Sun, Y., Asante, F. and Birner, R. (2010) Opportunities and Challenges of Community-Based Rural Drinking Water Supplies: An Analysis of Water and Sanitation Committees in Ghana [pdf], Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <http://www.ifpri.org/publication/opportunities-and-challenges-community-based-rural-drinking-water-supplies> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Tenaw, K. (2014) Assessment of Sustainability of Community Managed Potable Rural Water Supply Schemes/Points in Saharti-Samre Woreda [pdf], thesis, Mekelle University, Ethiopia <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/4668> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Vashneva, N.S., Kirilenko, A., Prigody, N., Kochorbaeva, Z., Choytonbaeva, A. and Grechko, E. (2014) Gender Aspects of Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation: Assessment and Concept. Bishkek: Women in Europe for a Common Future, Social Technologies Agency.

World Bank (2017) ‘Kyrgyz Republic to improve water and sanitation services, with World Bank support’ [press release], 23 June 2017 <www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/06/22/kyrgyz-republic-to-improve-water-and-sanitation-services-with-world-bank-support> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Davis, S. (2014) Guidelines for Resolution of Problems with Water Systems [pdf], Improve International <www.issuelab.org/resources/19492/19492.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Domashov, V. Korotenko, G. Gorborukova, M. Ablezova, A. Kirilenko. (2011) Baseline Assessment of Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools and Hospitals in the Northern Oblasts of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek: Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and UNICEF.

Harvey, A. (2016) ‘Steps to sustainability: a road map for WASH’, Waterlines 36(3) <https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.17-00002>.

Harvey, P. and Reed, R. (2007) ‘Community-managed water supplies in Africa: sustainable or dispensable?’ Community Development Journal 42(3): 365–78 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsl001>.

Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration, Department of Water Management, UN Economic Commission for Europe, OECD, European Union Water Initiative (2013) National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management: Results for 2008–2013 [pdf] <www.oecd.org/env/outreach/KR_NPD%20Overview.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Lockwood, H. and Smits, S. (2011) Supporting Rural Water Supply, Moving towards a Service Delivery Approach [pdf], IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Aguaconsult <www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Lockwood-2011-Supporting.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Montgomery, A., Bartram, J. and Menachem (2009) ‘Increasing functional sustainability of water and sanitation supplies in rural sub-Saharan Africa’, Environmental Engineering Science 26(5): 1017–23 <https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2008.0388>.

PMC Carl Bro (2008) Final Report of the RWSSP 2002/2008, Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2008) Community Water, Community Management, London: Practical Action Publishing.

Sun, Y., Asante, F. and Birner, R. (2010) Opportunities and Challenges of Community-Based Rural Drinking Water Supplies: An Analysis of Water and Sanitation Committees in Ghana [pdf], Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <http://www.ifpri.org/publication/opportunities-and-challenges-community-based-rural-drinking-water-supplies> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Tenaw, K. (2014) Assessment of Sustainability of Community Managed Potable Rural Water Supply Schemes/Points in Saharti-Samre Woreda [pdf], thesis, Mekelle University, Ethiopia <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/4668> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Vashneva, N.S., Kirilenko, A., Prigody, N., Kochorbaeva, Z., Choytonbaeva, A. and Grechko, E. (2014) Gender Aspects of Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation: Assessment and Concept. Bishkek: Women in Europe for a Common Future, Social Technologies Agency.

World Bank (2017) ‘Kyrgyz Republic to improve water and sanitation services, with World Bank support’ [press release], 23 June 2017 <www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/06/22/kyrgyz-republic-to-improve-water-and-sanitation-services-with-world-bank-support> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Davis, S. (2014) Guidelines for Resolution of Problems with Water Systems [pdf], Improve International <www.issuelab.org/resources/19492/19492.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Domashov, V. Korotenko, G. Gorborukova, M. Ablezova, A. Kirilenko. (2011) Baseline Assessment of Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools and Hospitals in the Northern Oblasts of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek: Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and UNICEF.

Harvey, A. (2016) ‘Steps to sustainability: a road map for WASH’, Waterlines 36(3) <https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.17-00002>.

Harvey, P. and Reed, R. (2007) ‘Community-managed water supplies in Africa: sustainable or dispensable?’ Community Development Journal 42(3): 365–78 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsl001>.

Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration, Department of Water Management, UN Economic Commission for Europe, OECD, European Union Water Initiative (2013) National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management: Results for 2008–2013 [pdf] <www.oecd.org/env/outreach/KR_NPD%20Overview.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Lockwood, H. and Smits, S. (2011) Supporting Rural Water Supply, Moving towards a Service Delivery Approach [pdf], IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Aguaconsult <www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Lockwood-2011-Supporting.pdf> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Montgomery, A., Bartram, J. and Menachem (2009) ‘Increasing functional sustainability of water and sanitation supplies in rural sub-Saharan Africa’, Environmental Engineering Science 26(5): 1017–23 <https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2008.0388>.

PMC Carl Bro (2008) Final Report of the RWSSP 2002/2008, Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2008) Community Water, Community Management, London: Practical Action Publishing.

Sun, Y., Asante, F. and Birner, R. (2010) Opportunities and Challenges of Community-Based Rural Drinking Water Supplies: An Analysis of Water and Sanitation Committees in Ghana [pdf], Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute <http://www.ifpri.org/publication/opportunities-and-challenges-community-based-rural-drinking-water-supplies> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Tenaw, K. (2014) Assessment of Sustainability of Community Managed Potable Rural Water Supply Schemes/Points in Saharti-Samre Woreda [pdf], thesis, Mekelle University, Ethiopia <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/4668> [accessed 25 January 2018].

Vashneva, N.S., Kirilenko, A., Prigody, N., Kochorbaeva, Z., Choytonbaeva, A. and Grechko, E. (2014) Gender Aspects of Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation: Assessment and Concept. Bishkek: Women in Europe for a Common Future, Social Technologies Agency.

World Bank (2017) ‘Kyrgyz Republic to improve water and sanitation services, with World Bank support’ [press release], 23 June 2017 <www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/06/22/kyrgyz-republic-to-improve-water-and-sanitation-services-with-world-bank-support> [accessed 25 January 2018].