Most water utilities in Africa struggle to serve even half of urban households falling under their mandate. Peri-urban districts and small towns fare especially badly; a widening gap is developing between the services offered by utilities and demand (fuelled by rapid population growth and urbanization). Typically this gap is filled by small-scale operators, many independent of the utility. Yet the risks these operators run are great - despite making significant investments, most are informal, and many are technically illegal. This paper focuses on one type of operator - those that invest their own funds in independent networks. Independent operators who work in perurban areas, often under the shadow of a public utility, are distinguished from those working in small towns, where the utility is not in evidence. Findings show that these operators are able to be innovative in the technical and financial arrangements of supplying to poor people, thus keeping down their charges. To improve their operation, interventions are suggested that can be brought about without major policy changes, and some changes that involve policy change.

BPD Roundtable (2008) ‘Engaging entpreneurs in the water sector’ (not yet published), London.

Collignon, B. and Vezina, M. (2000) Independent Water and Sanitation Providers in African Cities: Full Report of a Ten-Country Study, Urban Water and Sanitation,Program. UNDP-WSP.

Chaponnière, Emmanuel et al. (2007) ‘Technical assistance for the implementation of a water supply project in the suburbs of Matola and Maputo – Inception report’, FIPAG / AFD.

Conan, Herve and Paniagua, Maria (2004) The Role of Small Scale Private Water Providers in Serving the Poor, ADB.

Jones, David (2004) ‘Community-managed standpipes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’ Waterlines 21(2)

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) Small-Scale Private Service Providers of Water Supply and Electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727.

Trémolet, S. (2006) ‘Adapting regulation to the needs of the poor: Experience in 4 East African countries’, BPD, London.

Troyano, F. (1999) Small Scale Water Providers in Paraguay. Urban Water and Sanitation Latin America and the Caribbean. UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program.

Valfrey-Visser, Bruno, Schaub-Jones, David, Collignon, Bernard and Chaponnière, Emmanuel (2006) ‘Access through innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers’, BPD.

WSP-EAP (2004) Increasing Access – The Experience of Small-Scale Water Providers in Serving the Poor in Metro Manila, WSP.

BPD Roundtable (2008) ‘Engaging entpreneurs in the water sector’ (not yet published), London.

Collignon, B. and Vezina, M. (2000) Independent Water and Sanitation Providers in African Cities: Full Report of a Ten-Country Study, Urban Water and Sanitation,Program. UNDP-WSP.

Chaponnière, Emmanuel et al. (2007) ‘Technical assistance for the implementation of a water supply project in the suburbs of Matola and Maputo – Inception report’, FIPAG / AFD.

Conan, Herve and Paniagua, Maria (2004) The Role of Small Scale Private Water Providers in Serving the Poor, ADB.

Jones, David (2004) ‘Community-managed standpipes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’ Waterlines 21(2)

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) Small-Scale Private Service Providers of Water Supply and Electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727.

Trémolet, S. (2006) ‘Adapting regulation to the needs of the poor: Experience in 4 East African countries’, BPD, London.

Troyano, F. (1999) Small Scale Water Providers in Paraguay. Urban Water and Sanitation Latin America and the Caribbean. UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program.

Valfrey-Visser, Bruno, Schaub-Jones, David, Collignon, Bernard and Chaponnière, Emmanuel (2006) ‘Access through innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers’, BPD.

WSP-EAP (2004) Increasing Access – The Experience of Small-Scale Water Providers in Serving the Poor in Metro Manila, WSP.

BPD Roundtable (2008) ‘Engaging entpreneurs in the water sector’ (not yet published), London.

Collignon, B. and Vezina, M. (2000) Independent Water and Sanitation Providers in African Cities: Full Report of a Ten-Country Study, Urban Water and Sanitation,Program. UNDP-WSP.

Chaponnière, Emmanuel et al. (2007) ‘Technical assistance for the implementation of a water supply project in the suburbs of Matola and Maputo – Inception report’, FIPAG / AFD.

Conan, Herve and Paniagua, Maria (2004) The Role of Small Scale Private Water Providers in Serving the Poor, ADB.

Jones, David (2004) ‘Community-managed standpipes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’ Waterlines 21(2)

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) Small-Scale Private Service Providers of Water Supply and Electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727.

Trémolet, S. (2006) ‘Adapting regulation to the needs of the poor: Experience in 4 East African countries’, BPD, London.

Troyano, F. (1999) Small Scale Water Providers in Paraguay. Urban Water and Sanitation Latin America and the Caribbean. UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program.

Valfrey-Visser, Bruno, Schaub-Jones, David, Collignon, Bernard and Chaponnière, Emmanuel (2006) ‘Access through innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers’, BPD.

WSP-EAP (2004) Increasing Access – The Experience of Small-Scale Water Providers in Serving the Poor in Metro Manila, WSP.

BPD Roundtable (2008) ‘Engaging entpreneurs in the water sector’ (not yet published), London.

Collignon, B. and Vezina, M. (2000) Independent Water and Sanitation Providers in African Cities: Full Report of a Ten-Country Study, Urban Water and Sanitation,Program. UNDP-WSP.

Chaponnière, Emmanuel et al. (2007) ‘Technical assistance for the implementation of a water supply project in the suburbs of Matola and Maputo – Inception report’, FIPAG / AFD.

Conan, Herve and Paniagua, Maria (2004) The Role of Small Scale Private Water Providers in Serving the Poor, ADB.

Jones, David (2004) ‘Community-managed standpipes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’ Waterlines 21(2)

Kariuki, M. and Schwartz, J. (2005) Small-Scale Private Service Providers of Water Supply and Electricity: A review of incidence, structure, pricing and operating characteristics, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3727.

Trémolet, S. (2006) ‘Adapting regulation to the needs of the poor: Experience in 4 East African countries’, BPD, London.

Troyano, F. (1999) Small Scale Water Providers in Paraguay. Urban Water and Sanitation Latin America and the Caribbean. UNDP/World Bank Water and Sanitation Program.

Valfrey-Visser, Bruno, Schaub-Jones, David, Collignon, Bernard and Chaponnière, Emmanuel (2006) ‘Access through innovation: Expanding water service delivery through independent network providers’, BPD.

WSP-EAP (2004) Increasing Access – The Experience of Small-Scale Water Providers in Serving the Poor in Metro Manila, WSP.