13.7  Major barriers to the provision of safe water

Capacity and finance are the main factors that prevent the effective provision of water. Capacity, in this context, means having the ability to do something. It can be described in terms of the human, technological, infrastructural, institutional and managerial resources required at all levels from the individual through to national governance. Capacities have to be built within each of these levels and they should be institutionalised, meaning formal organisational structures will be needed to bring about effective change. Individuals and groups of people can act together informally but this is less likely to succeed. Local communities need to be empowered to build their capacity and use infrastructure effectively, or the provision of safe water will be difficult.