Today, more than 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Within the next 25 years, fully one-third of the world’s population will experience severe water scarcity. It is clear that disparities in the availability and supply of fresh water are truly a matter of life and death, and constitute one of the great governance imperatives of our time.

This publication summarizes the results of three decades of IDRC-supported research on water supply. It demonstrates that some of the most powerful responses to water scarcities have been mounted at the community or local level — in households, farmers’ fields, villages, and city neighbourhoods. With a focus on research findings, and failures, this book presents solidly grounded propositions for decision-makers and for researchers. It goes on to form a series of clear and pointed recommendations for policy design and future research efforts, and concludes with an eye to the future of water supply and a presentation of some of the key resources in the field.

The book also serves as the focal point for a IDRC thematic Web site on water: www.idrc.ca/in_focus_water. The full text is available online and leads the reader into a true web of resources that represent IDRC’s 30 years of experience in water-related research. A CD of the in_focus Website is included with the book.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included.