Developing a novel tool for assessing water service sustainability in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop a tool for assessing water service sustainability in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This tool is called the ‘Water Service Assessment Tool’ (WaSAT) and is based on the Water Service Sustainability Index (WSSI) which consists of 21 indicators grouped into six dimensions (economic, environmental, social, technical, institutional, and governance). The WaSAT was developed using Microsoft Excel and PowerApps platforms. This tool provides a solid baseline on the sustainability of water services and identifies priority actions to be taken to move services toward sustainability.