[[Image:domestic connection icon.png|right|100px80px]][[Image:domestic connection.jpg|thumb|right|300px200px|Household connection. Drawing: WHO.]]__NOTOC__ <small-title />
When enough water and funds are available, the best option is to connect every house or yard to a piped water system. This is more convenient for water users, generally increases water use, and improves hygiene. A service pipe, usually made of PE or PVCu, leads from the distribution network to the house or yard.
'''Yield:''' Depends on the pressure of the public main, diameter of the household connection, and demand.
===Construction, operations and maintenance===
Taps are used throughout the day. They should not be left open or leak, otherwise mud and pools will form, which must be avoided. The tap and site must be cleaned regularly and the drain inspected. In case of leakage, a rubber washer or other part of the tap may need to be replaced. Any structure on the tap site and drainage system may need to be repaired. Occasionally, the service pipe, fittings and accessories may leak and need to be repaired or replaced. O&M of the domestic connection are carried out by the household itself, or by a community water committee. When water is scarce, or if the pressure is too low in part of the network, the water committee has to motivate users to limit their water use, or create conditions that will induce users to reduce water consumption (e.g. a tariff structure that discourages excessive water use).
— initial costs for household connections are higher, and it is complicated to maintain the distribution network.
===Costs==='''Initial cost:''' Depends on factors, such as whether the domestic connection extends into a house, the type of piping material used, whether PE or PVCu PVC-U pipes are available locally, etc. ===Field experiences===The following projects utilize pipelines for water access.<br>{{RSR_table|1image=project 787.jpg |1link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/787/ |1project#=787 |1project name=MWA-LAP: <br>Guatemala ||2image=project 786.jpg |2link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/786/ |2project#=786 |2project name=MWA-LAP: <br>Honduras ||3image=project 1365.jpg |3link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1365/ |3project#=1365 |3project name=Facilities Ibbagamuwa <br>school Sri Lanka ||4image=project 727.jpg |4link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/727/ |4project#=727 |4project name=TESO North School and Community WASH Project ||5image=project 196.png |5link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/196/ |5project#=196 |5project name=Water for poor <br>areas: Villa Ocampo |}}
===Acknowledgements===* Brikke, François, and Bredero, Maarten. ''[http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2Fwater_sanitation_health%2Fhygiene%2Fom%2Flinkingintro/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/om/linkingintro.pdf&ei=cwJpT-zaO-OiiQKCst2rBw&usg=AFQjCNEWOQhTgF3a7lzhuw5OA2KmbVGxcA&sig2=Rt2EURUyGVqDcwFg6p0xAw Linking technology choice with operation and maintenance in the context of community water supply and sanitation: A reference document for planners and project staff]''. World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre. Geneva, Switzerland 2003.