'Water Training' by Wendy Xu

1. Serenity Thru Haiku

Everybody has to start somewhere. We've all heard that.

It's true though, a lot communities in developing countries need a little help either to start a water sanitation system or to improve upon their existing infrastructures. The collaborative urban water manual of Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority's (DAWASA) Community Water Supply and Sanitation Program (CWSSP) does this exactly.

2. Paul Simon

Developing water compact in Mozambique

It's a brilliant idea to create a set of universal guidelines for trainers and communities to achieve and maintain a sustainable urban water system. The manual published in January of this year outlines the operations and maintenance requirements. Modules were created to illustrate solutions to various financial and managerial circumstances. It details the roles of the participants as well as the facilitators and also addresses the responsibilities of the stakeholders.

The format of the manual is exactly like your high school chemistry investigations. Don't get me wrong its not dull at all, but concise and easy to follow (if only all other urban issues can be solved this easily). The manual takes in consideration of all the aspects that a well rounded urban solution should have: simplicity, economy and sustainability.

Image Sources

1. n.a., "The Grandest Pyramid Scheme," Serenity Thru Haiku, January 31, 2009. http://serenitythruhaiku.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/gd3984330water-babies-pics-s-1824.jpg,(accessed November 1, 2009, 11am).

2. Paul Simon, "Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005 Report to Congress June 2007," U.S. Department of State, June 1, 2007. http://www.state.gov/cms_images/water_africa.jpg, (accessed November 1, 2009, 11am).

Information Sources

Vivian Castro, Neli Msuya, and Charles Makoye, "Africa Training Manual," January, 2009. http://www.wsp.org/UserFiles/file/africa_training_manual.pdf, (accessed November 1, 2009, 11am).

Ministry of Health, "Manual for Safe Drinking Water," First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, February 2007, http://www.watertraining.ca/drinkingwater/pdf/DW_English.pdf ,(accessed November 1, 2009, 10am).

- Wendy Xu