Fit-for-purpose labs for monitoring and managing rural water supplies

In Nepal, Kenya and Bangladesh, researchers working with practitioners and local governments have established fit-for-purpose (FFP) laboratories to support reliable water quality monitoring and operational management of rural water systems. The FFP laboratories in each country setting are imbedded within a network of stakeholders, with support and engagement from water users themselves. FFP labs play a key role in ensuring safe drinking water supplies in rural areas by establishing water quality databases and motivating proactive responses. The broader diffusion and uptake of FFP labs by external actors within and beyond REACH program boundaries demonstrates high demand for the approach.