In the course of implementation of rural water supply schemes since the launching of the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) in 1972 and Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) in 1986 and NRDWP in 2009, a large number of successful models of providing sustainable and safe drinking water have been tried out throughout the country. These are build on traditional experience and also chart out new paths using the latest technologies and innate wisdom of the people. Though conditions vary widely among the states, in today’s globalized world where countries learn from one another, there are many lessons that states and regions of the countries can learn from each other. Experts and practitioners in the field of rural water supply are aware of many good practices that have succeeded and sustained in different parts of the country.
With the help of Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has collected some models of good practices from different parts of the country. In addition, the good practices identified cover a variety of areas ranging from improved service delivery, operation of multi-village schemes, efficient operation and maintenance, ensuring water quality, measures to ensure source sustainability, pioneering efforts for waste water management, effective communication practices that have been adopted and institutional reforms at state level that have been tried out.