Including water quality monitoring in rural water services: why safe water requires challenging the quantity versus quality dichotomy

This paper investigates the challenges of integrating water quality monitoring into rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa. Using dilemma analysis from an institutional experiment with 76 stakeholders, the study reveals a prevalent "quantity versus quality" dichotomy that hinders progress. This dichotomy stems from contrasting assumptions about water quality importance, risks associated with inaction, and unclear responsibilities. While monitoring can threaten stakeholder cooperation, integrating supported water safety planning into project design can mitigate this risk.

Saskia Nowicki, Johanna Koehler, Katrina J. Charles