Living Water’s Operation and Maintenance (O&M) pilot in Nicaragua is a unique approach that aims to transfer well maintenance to the private sector over the course of just a few years. At the same time it’s designed to transfer sanitation and hygiene education into homes, and—to the extent God’s grace allows—the love of Jesus into hearts. Here’s how it works:

Living Water equipped and trained a small, Christian-run business called Water Solutions. Water Solutions in turn trained team members to organize communities, work with a network of largely women-run water committees, maintain and repair wells, assure water quality and partner with local churches to share the gospel.

To participate, families pay $2 per month to the local water committee and communities must participate in hygiene and sanitation programs. As relationships are developed, funds accumulate and maintenance and repair activities are transferred to Water Solutions and the market. In years that takes to happen we taper our financial investment as hygiene, sanitation and Christian witness activities are passed on to families, communities and churches while Living Water monitors.

It's designed to transfer education into homes and the love of Jesus into hearts.

The world hasn’t been thinking about sustainable water access for the rural poor for as long as you might think. In 1990, when Living Water was founded, the UN Millennium Development Goal for water wouldn’t be signed for another 10 years. For a billion people at that time, safe drinking water was a dream.

Back then, we all talked about “village-level operation and maintenance”—if you train the community right, they’ll keep their well working. But wells can last years without breaking down, people move, trainees forget and tools can vanish. Many other strategies have been tested over years, and the sector has yet to find a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Why would there be one? Cultures, supply-chains, costs, circumstances and experiences vary as much as the cultures in the 24 countries we serve.

Over the years, the growing water sector serving the rural poor has searched for an easy “in and out” sustainability answer. Over time, Living Water has come to understand that communities need ongoing technical and management support from governments, businesses, and organizations like ours to oversee the work of ensuring that water flows for life. We’ve come to embrace that our unique focus on water and our commitment to long-term solutions are our strengths. That oversight costs money, though, and it’s worth it—precisely because our aim is to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our unique focus and commitment to long-term solutions are our strengths.