Poor initial planning processes have been implicated in the high failure rate of rural water and sanitation development projects. This research explored the relationship between local-level planning processes and long-term project sustainability from an implementer's perspective, through interviews with 30 water and sanitation development professionals from a range of regions and organizational types. Despite agreement among informants that the issues are social and institutional rather than technical, poor technology choice was the most commonly mentioned reason for failed projects. Sensitization of stakeholders to sustainability criteria by which technology can be matched to its intended social and institutional context appears fundamental to increased success. Other proposed improvements to planning include a more intensive phase of acquiring contextual data and understanding, an emphasis on human relationships for the project and the selection of individuals with passion, commitment, and integrity, and explicit calculation of the economic implications of operation and maintenance.

Abrams, L. (2000) Understanding Sustainability of Local Water Services [website], Water Policy International <www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm≯ [accessed 10 May 2008]. www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm

Barnes, R. (2009) Planning for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Projects in Rural, Developing Communities, PhD Thesis, Sydney: University of New South Wales.

Barnes, R. and Ashbolt, N.J. (2007) ‘Decision-making for sustainable water and sanitation development projects: a case study in rural Philippines’, in Water Management and Technology Applications in Developing Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-16 May, London: International Water Association.

Brikke, F. and Bredero, M. (2003) Linking Technology Choice with Operation and Maintenance in the Context of Community Water Supply and Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre <www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/≯. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/

Dunmade, I. (2002) ‘Indicators of sustainability: assessing the suitability of a foreign technology for a developing economy’, Technology in Society 24: 461-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-791X(02)00036-2≯.

McConville, J.R. and Mihelcic, J.R. (2007) ‘Adapting life-cycle thinking tools to evaluate project sustainability in international water and sanitation development work’, Environmental Engineering Science 24(7): 937-48 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ees.2006.0225≯.

Malmqvist, P.A. and Palmquist, H. (2005) ‘Decision support tools for urban water and wastewater systems: focusing on hazardous flow assessment’, Water Science and Technology 51(8): 41-49.

Mathew, B. (2005) ‘Ensuring sustained beneficial outcomes for water and sanitation programmes in the developing world’, PhD thesis, Cranfield, UK: Cranfield University.

Moe, C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2006) ‘Global challenges in water, sanitation and health’, Journal of Water and Health 4(Suppl. 1): 41-57.

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

Sawyer, R., Simpson-Hebert, M. and Wood, S. (1998) ‘PHAST step-by-step guide: a participatory approach for the control of diarrhoeal disease’, unpublished document WHO/EOS/98.3, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2003) Community Water, Community Management: From System to Service in Rural Areas, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780441061≯.

United Nations (2013) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Wester, F. and Peters, V. (2000) ‘Qualitative analysis: phases, techniques and computer use’, in C.J. Pole and R.G. Burgess (eds), Cross-Cultural Case Study, pp. 139-64, New York: Elsevier Science.

Abrams, L. (2000) Understanding Sustainability of Local Water Services [website], Water Policy International <www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm≯ [accessed 10 May 2008]. www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm

Barnes, R. (2009) Planning for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Projects in Rural, Developing Communities, PhD Thesis, Sydney: University of New South Wales.

Barnes, R. and Ashbolt, N.J. (2007) ‘Decision-making for sustainable water and sanitation development projects: a case study in rural Philippines’, in Water Management and Technology Applications in Developing Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-16 May, London: International Water Association.

Brikke, F. and Bredero, M. (2003) Linking Technology Choice with Operation and Maintenance in the Context of Community Water Supply and Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre <www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/≯. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/

Dunmade, I. (2002) ‘Indicators of sustainability: assessing the suitability of a foreign technology for a developing economy’, Technology in Society 24: 461-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-791X(02)00036-2≯.

McConville, J.R. and Mihelcic, J.R. (2007) ‘Adapting life-cycle thinking tools to evaluate project sustainability in international water and sanitation development work’, Environmental Engineering Science 24(7): 937-48 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ees.2006.0225≯.

Malmqvist, P.A. and Palmquist, H. (2005) ‘Decision support tools for urban water and wastewater systems: focusing on hazardous flow assessment’, Water Science and Technology 51(8): 41-49.

Mathew, B. (2005) ‘Ensuring sustained beneficial outcomes for water and sanitation programmes in the developing world’, PhD thesis, Cranfield, UK: Cranfield University.

Moe, C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2006) ‘Global challenges in water, sanitation and health’, Journal of Water and Health 4(Suppl. 1): 41-57.

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

Sawyer, R., Simpson-Hebert, M. and Wood, S. (1998) ‘PHAST step-by-step guide: a participatory approach for the control of diarrhoeal disease’, unpublished document WHO/EOS/98.3, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2003) Community Water, Community Management: From System to Service in Rural Areas, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780441061≯.

United Nations (2013) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Wester, F. and Peters, V. (2000) ‘Qualitative analysis: phases, techniques and computer use’, in C.J. Pole and R.G. Burgess (eds), Cross-Cultural Case Study, pp. 139-64, New York: Elsevier Science.

Abrams, L. (2000) Understanding Sustainability of Local Water Services [website], Water Policy International <www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm≯ [accessed 10 May 2008]. www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm

Barnes, R. (2009) Planning for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Projects in Rural, Developing Communities, PhD Thesis, Sydney: University of New South Wales.

Barnes, R. and Ashbolt, N.J. (2007) ‘Decision-making for sustainable water and sanitation development projects: a case study in rural Philippines’, in Water Management and Technology Applications in Developing Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-16 May, London: International Water Association.

Brikke, F. and Bredero, M. (2003) Linking Technology Choice with Operation and Maintenance in the Context of Community Water Supply and Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre <www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/≯. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/

Dunmade, I. (2002) ‘Indicators of sustainability: assessing the suitability of a foreign technology for a developing economy’, Technology in Society 24: 461-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-791X(02)00036-2≯.

McConville, J.R. and Mihelcic, J.R. (2007) ‘Adapting life-cycle thinking tools to evaluate project sustainability in international water and sanitation development work’, Environmental Engineering Science 24(7): 937-48 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ees.2006.0225≯.

Malmqvist, P.A. and Palmquist, H. (2005) ‘Decision support tools for urban water and wastewater systems: focusing on hazardous flow assessment’, Water Science and Technology 51(8): 41-49.

Mathew, B. (2005) ‘Ensuring sustained beneficial outcomes for water and sanitation programmes in the developing world’, PhD thesis, Cranfield, UK: Cranfield University.

Moe, C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2006) ‘Global challenges in water, sanitation and health’, Journal of Water and Health 4(Suppl. 1): 41-57.

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

Sawyer, R., Simpson-Hebert, M. and Wood, S. (1998) ‘PHAST step-by-step guide: a participatory approach for the control of diarrhoeal disease’, unpublished document WHO/EOS/98.3, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2003) Community Water, Community Management: From System to Service in Rural Areas, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780441061≯.

United Nations (2013) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Wester, F. and Peters, V. (2000) ‘Qualitative analysis: phases, techniques and computer use’, in C.J. Pole and R.G. Burgess (eds), Cross-Cultural Case Study, pp. 139-64, New York: Elsevier Science.

Abrams, L. (2000) Understanding Sustainability of Local Water Services [website], Water Policy International <www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm≯ [accessed 10 May 2008]. www.africanwater.org/sustainability.htm

Barnes, R. (2009) Planning for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Projects in Rural, Developing Communities, PhD Thesis, Sydney: University of New South Wales.

Barnes, R. and Ashbolt, N.J. (2007) ‘Decision-making for sustainable water and sanitation development projects: a case study in rural Philippines’, in Water Management and Technology Applications in Developing Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-16 May, London: International Water Association.

Brikke, F. and Bredero, M. (2003) Linking Technology Choice with Operation and Maintenance in the Context of Community Water Supply and Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre <www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/≯. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/wsh9241562153/en/

Dunmade, I. (2002) ‘Indicators of sustainability: assessing the suitability of a foreign technology for a developing economy’, Technology in Society 24: 461-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-791X(02)00036-2≯.

McConville, J.R. and Mihelcic, J.R. (2007) ‘Adapting life-cycle thinking tools to evaluate project sustainability in international water and sanitation development work’, Environmental Engineering Science 24(7): 937-48 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ees.2006.0225≯.

Malmqvist, P.A. and Palmquist, H. (2005) ‘Decision support tools for urban water and wastewater systems: focusing on hazardous flow assessment’, Water Science and Technology 51(8): 41-49.

Mathew, B. (2005) ‘Ensuring sustained beneficial outcomes for water and sanitation programmes in the developing world’, PhD thesis, Cranfield, UK: Cranfield University.

Moe, C. and Rheingans, R.D. (2006) ‘Global challenges in water, sanitation and health’, Journal of Water and Health 4(Suppl. 1): 41-57.

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

Sawyer, R., Simpson-Hebert, M. and Wood, S. (1998) ‘PHAST step-by-step guide: a participatory approach for the control of diarrhoeal disease’, unpublished document WHO/EOS/98.3, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Schouten, T. and Moriarty, P. (2003) Community Water, Community Management: From System to Service in Rural Areas, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780441061≯.

United Nations (2013) The Millennium Development Goals Report, New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Wester, F. and Peters, V. (2000) ‘Qualitative analysis: phases, techniques and computer use’, in C.J. Pole and R.G. Burgess (eds), Cross-Cultural Case Study, pp. 139-64, New York: Elsevier Science.