[[Image:MUS in Nepal.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A multi-use water system in Nepal provides safe drinking water and drip irrigation for farmers, helping them adapt to climate change. Photo: [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2010/2010-11-22-03.html USAID and Winrock International]]]
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Multiple-use water services (MUS) is an innovative approach to water services. It unlocks new investment opportunities for poverty reduction and gender equity in peri-urban and rural areas. MUS takes people’s multiple water needs as the starting point of planning and design of new systems and upgrades. Universally, water users already use ‘domestic’ systems or ‘irrigation’ systems for multiple purposes, whether legal or not. By planning for these multiple uses, many more benefits from investments in infrastructure can be realized: health, freedom from domestic chores, food and income and gender equity.
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<font size="3" color="#63B8FF995e8c">Multiple-use water services is a holistic approach to <br>sustainable water services that improves health and livelihoods.</font>
[[Image:MUS graphic.png|thumb|none|500px|Graphic: [http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/uploads/files/6017a66b-db64-46ca-97ff-2db8e873cc04.pdf Rockefeller Foundation]]]
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===What does a multiple-use water service look like?===
Once you understand the people, their needs and desires, and the sources, you can design an integrated water service with supporting health and livelihood components. How do you decide on the right combination of technologies and supporting programs?
[[File: MUS livelihoods chart.png|thumb|none|500px|Click to zoom. Chart: [http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/uploads/files/6017a66b-db64-46ca-97ff-2db8e873cc04.pdf Winrock International]]]
===Field experiences===
In Nepal, multiple-use water systems were introduced by Nepal Smallholder Market Initiative (SIMI), International Development Enterprise (IDE), and Winrock. The systems consist of collection tanks at springs or small streams diversions, which deliver water to a reservoir near a village by gravity flow through a pipe. These systems serve 10-40 households, which use the water both for domestic purposes and horticulture. The introduction of drip irrigation systems ensured an efficient use of the water and better plant growth. Sixty percent of drip irrigation users apply water from the domestic system.
===Manuals, videos and links===
* PDF: [http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/uploads/files/6017a66b-db64-46ca-97ff-2db8e873cc04.pdf A Guide to Multiple-Use Water Services]. Winrock International.
* [http://www.musgroup.net/ Multiple Use Water Services Group].
* [http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Water_Policy_Briefs/PDF/wpb18.pdf Taking a multiple-use approach to meeting the water needs of poor communities brings multiple benefits]. IWMI (2006)
===Acknowledgements===
* Models For Implementing Multiple-Use Water Supply Systems For Enhanced Land And Water Productivity, Rural Livelihoods And Gender Equity – Multiple Use Systems (MUS). [http://ongoing-research.cgiar.org/factsheets/models-for-implementing-multiple-use-water-supply-systems-for-enhanced-land-and-water-productivity-rural-livelihoods-and-gender-equity-multiple-use-systems-mus/ Ongoing research - CIGAR.]
* [http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/uploads/files/6017a66b-db64-46ca-97ff-2db8e873cc04.pdf A Guide to Multiple-Use Water Services]. Winrock International.
