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Regional Forum on Innovations for Connecting the Poor: Small Piped Water Networks

ADB believes that small piped water networks (SPWN), a system used by Small Scale Water Providers (SSWPs), offer temporary yet building-block solutions to the water problems of slum communities. SPWNs can also help achieve the MDG Target 10 on sustainable access to safe drinking water in the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2005, ADB designed pilot projects to demonstrate the use of SPWN for speedy piped water delivery. These pilot projects aimed to quickly connect selected urban poor communities in India, the Philippines, and Viet Nam to piped water supply on an interim basis until such time that the water utility is able to do so. The major outputs of these pilot projects are:

• Successful SPWNs in India (Ahmedabad), the Philippines (Manila), and Viet Nam (Tien Gang province)
• A new or modified SSWP registration procedure, in coordination with the appropriate registering agency
• An evaluation report of the implementation of SPWNs
• A practical tool kit to help replicate efforts and scale up SPWNs under ADB's lending program

This regional forum showcased the results of the SPWN pilot projects in Ahmedabad, Manila, and Tien Gang. Discussions were geared towards generating ideas and actions to upscale and replicate the pilot projects in ADB’s Developing Member Countries (DMCs). A draft SPWN toolkit being developed by ADB to assist interested DMCs were presented.

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The forum aimed:

• review and discuss approaches to quick delivery of 24x7 piped supply of safe drinking water, particularly SPWNs
• identify opportunities for new partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society for upscaling and replication of pilot experiences

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• Comments on Draft SPWN Toolkit
• Feedback from the Regional Forum on the way forward

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The forum was organized by ADB.

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Representative from national and local governments, water utilities, private water companies, small water providers, and civil society organizations in ADB’s developing member countries participated. Representatives from the UN Water and Sanitation Program, JBIC, UN-HABITAT, UNDP, WHO, and other development partners were also invited.

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The forum was held at ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines.

• Small Piped Water Networks: Key to Universal Water Access in Asia