Rural Water and Sanitation Policy.

The Rural Water and Sanitation Policy is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The objectives of this policy are (I) to provide accessible, safe, affordable, sustainable drinking water and sanitation for rural and maritime islands, and (II) to provide water and sanitation facilities using affordable and appropriate technologies that are environmentally safe. This policy covers the various sources of water utilized by rural and urban population, namely: rainwater, surface water, groundwater, and sea water.
This policy lays down actions to reduce health threats from the contamination of water sources, ensure long-term sustainability of water supply and sanitation schemes, raise local communities' awareness on water, sanitation and health, ensure accountability within local communities in looking after their water supply and sanitation schemes, and reduce reliance by communities on external emergency water supply in conditions of water scarcity. Water supply and sanitation schemes will be improved to reduce and minimize health risks in drinking water. All sources of water will be investigated and jointly developed and managed to provide the optimum long-term supply for the local community and as far as possible eliminate the risk of waterborne diseases from the drinking water. Investigations will be carried out to determine the quantity and quality of raw water and the need for appropriate treatment if required. The impacts of increased water use and wastewater disposal will be properly estimated and their management will be strengthened to ensure they are not polluting the water resources. The maintenance plan and supporting services will be developed and reviewed regularly for proper operation of water supply schemes. Sanitation systems will be designed taking into account both brackish water and greywater.
The effective coordination of Government agencies and stakeholders will be strengthened in ensuring access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene facilities for rural communities. The formal agreement of the Implementing Agencies as the funding and resource management parties and the community as the party that will benefit and manage the supply locally, will be included in the Water Supply Management Plan. The WSMP for all water and sanitation projects will be completed and approved by Department of Water and Sewerage. The local communities will be encouraged to take responsibility for the operation and maintenance of their water supply and sanitation schemes. Water committees will be established by rural communities to manage, operate and maintain water supply and sanitation projects, and to ensure that the physical infrastructure is maintained with proper training provided to carry out timely maintenance of the infrastructure. The composition of the water committee must include one or two female members and similarly youth members of the communities. All Implementing Agencies should ensure that the Water Committee is actively involved from the planning stage, implementation phases until completion and handing over of water and sanitation projects. The Department of Water and Sewerage will monitor the implementation of all approved WSMP for government funded and non-government funded schemes to ensure projects are implemented according to approved WSMP and standards.