1) MUS (Multi-Use Water Services) aims to provide water access for multiple domestic and productive uses like drinking, sanitation, irrigation, and livestock through integrated water infrastructure, but it has not been widely adopted. 2) There are three main MUS models - "domestic-plus" which improves domestic water services, "irrigation-plus" which adds access to non-irrigation uses, and "MUS by design" which takes a community-driven approach. 3) The water and agriculture sectors work in silos and have different priorities and accountability metrics, focusing on single uses, which has hindered scaling of the holistic MUS approach.

1. If MUS is such a good idea, why
doesn’t it spread like wildfire?
Potential and barriers for scaling MUS;
based on scoping studies in
India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzani
a
Barbara van Koppen & Stef Smits

2. MUS models:
• domestic-plus: higher service levels: climbing the water ladder
• irrigation-plus: improving access for non-irrigation uses
• MUS by design: community-driven planning and design
Silo-ed scaling partners:
• Domestic-plus WASH
• Irrigation-plus irrigation sector
• MUS by design:
Plus approaches; holistic water services; water
resource programs e.g., 3 R, NRM, ecosystems
Community-driven development and employment
Strategies for scaling MUS:
‘Models’ and ‘Scaling partners’
Water
Devmt

3. MUS by design in community-driven
development/employment generation
Local government/implementing agents; e.g.,
• India MG National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme:
55 million households; 2/3 assets water: the world’s
largest rural water project!
• Community driven development: e.g. PAF Nepal;TASAF
Tanzania
Taps: communities’ self-supply for multiple
uses/benefits, efficiently from multiple sources,
through cost-effective multi-purpose
infrastructure, according to own priorities,
leveraging own investments, for sustainable
health and wealth

4. Accountability Paradox
Expertise-
based, competitive
funding;
accountable for
infrastructure
(output) and single
livelihood (outcome)
Not my job; already so
complex; no extra
costs
People’s
planning
Discretion;
Demand-
driven
expertise

5. MUS opportunities-1:
outcomes
WASH
My sub-sector is
accountable to:
Irrigation
My sub-sector is
accountable to:
Key messages
Livelihood
impacts
Improve health - by clean
drinking water and
sanitation
Other methods, health
aspects and livelihoods are
not my job
Improve food,
productivity, and income
through crops (and
health related to that)
Other livelihoods are not
my job
Meet multiple livelihoods
for more outcomes
(allow for more flexibility in
project formulation!)
Water
safety
Health
impacts
Treat all domestic water,
also for domestic uses that
do not need drinking water
quality
Domestic-plus is a waste of
expensive treated water
Forbid people to drink
water from canals
Drinking water quality is
not my expertise and not
my job
Ensure 3-5 lpcd clean
Reduce costs for larger quantities
of lesser quality for personal
hygiene and for other domestic
uses and productive uses

6. WASH
My sub-sector is
accountable to:
Irrigation
My sub-sector is
accountable to:
Key messages:
Equity in
fund
allocatio
n
Domestic-plus delays
reaching the unserved and
meeting their human
rights
Target basic domestic
services to all to realize
one human right
Water for broader socio-
economic human rights
(food, livelihoods) are
not my job
Provide more water for
more land, widening
gaps
Prioritize fund allocation to meet
domestic needs and minimum
productive needs for all
? Universal domestic-plus
(gender/landless)
MUS is more cost-effective
Cost
recovery
Domestic-plus generates
income for better cost-
recovery (favouring MUS)
Cost-recovery even for just
operation and
maintenance is weak
More uses increase
ability to pay (favouring
MUS)
Cost-recovery even for
just operation and
maintenance is weak
Broaden the benefits, and hence the
basis for cost-recovery, through
multi-purpose infrastructure
Target life-line subsidies to the poor
Those who can pay should pay
MUS opportunities-2:
reaching the poor/women cost-effectively

7. WASH
My sub-sector is
accountable to:
Irrigation
My sub-sector is accountable
to:
Key messages:
Pro-
poor
water
allocatio
n
Allowing for productive
uses will steal water
from domestic uses and
increase inequities
Infrastructure designed
for domestic uses means
it IS a priority
Domestic and livestock uses
are negligible quantities, so
acceptable
Infrastructure designed for
irrigation means it IS a
priority, irrespective of
statutory/human rights law
Prioritize water allocation for
basic domestic and productive
water uses for all, meeting
various human rights, and ensure
enforcement
MUS opportunities-3:
allocating water equitably/efficiently

8. Thanks for your attention
www.musgroup.net