Health, food security and equity, socio-economic factors in self-supply investment

International research into household investment in water supply and sanitation has led to a growing awareness of the significance of household investment (Self-supply) to the local WASH sector. This paper looks at some lessons learnt from baseline surveys of self-financed water supplies in Ethiopia, Malawi and Zambia. The surveys explored some impacts of on-plot Self-supply, which could influence future efforts to support self-supply services to reach new groups and improve existing supplies. The prime motivation for investors is convenience of domestic supply. A closer water source is perceived to improve family health and save time and energy, and so to lead to greater food security, even where the water is not directly used for productive purposes. In equity terms investment is not limited by wealth or education. Sharing of supplies extends many of the benefits of proximity of access to those who have been unable to develop their own.