Rural Water Supply Network

Rural Water Supply Network
Logo RWSN Switzerland.JPG
Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Type: NGO
Class: Network NGO
Key work: Self Supply,
Cost-effective boreholes,
Sustainable handpumps,
Handpump Technologies
Website: rwsn.ch

The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) functions as a global knowledge network with its secretariat hosted by a Skat Foundation, a resource centre based in Switzerland.

Assisting sector partners initiatives through knowledge sharing and dissemination is at the core of all RWSN activities. The organisation helps in cross-fertilisation of experiences and prevents "reinventing the wheel". RWSN concentrates on affordable, groundwater-related technologies that are easy to maintain and acts as a focal point for standardisation of low cost water supply technologies.

As such, RWSN blends a strong engineering capacity with the principles of balanced institutional, financial and social development. The network is able to act as a depository of knowledge and provides support to sector partners. Furthermore, RWSN supports the preparation of case studies, technical notes and field monitoring reports. It provides technical back-up on low cost technologies and assists in the introduction of implementation procedures.

The following four themes are known as the flagships of RWSN: self supply, cost-effective boreholes, sustainable handpumps, handpump technologies.


Main activities

  • Increase access to basic water and sanitation services
  • Maximise the impact of investment through successful application of cost-effective technologies
  • Institutionalise technology selection and standardisation in a demand responsive environment
  • Address institutional aspects of co-operation between all stakeholders
  • Reduce well drilling costs
  • Improve sustainability of existing water supply facilities through ensured supply chains for spare parts.
  • Mobilise additional resources, especially at local level.


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