Water Systems Asset management
A financial-technical approach for improving water supply services
Water Systems’ Asset Management is an approach to support water users' committees, water operators, caretakers, and governmental institutions in optimising the technical and financial performance of their water systems.
It assures the water quantity & quality, and systems’ reliability and accessibility matches the demand of customers, and it supports decisions on infrastructure’s design, use and maintenance.
Why is asset management needed?
The foundations for a sustainable water system are laid in its design. Initial decisions, like dimensioning the water system and determining its water tariff, will affect its financial and technical performance. Moreover, during the operational phase it is vital to understand maintenance requirements and costs. One needs to know whether revenues generated can cover the expenses.
Water systems’ asset management does exactly that: making financial models of the envisioned service comparing this with the cost of maintaining and delivering this service. Long-term monitoring allows comparing plans with reality. This enables informed decision-making - before and during the operational phase.
How does the toolbox Water Systems’ Asset Management contribute to water systems’ sustainability?
As part of the WASH Alliance International, Practica has taken the initiative to build the capacity of stakeholders on Water Systems’ Asset Management by developing an open-source digital toolbox in collaboration with Simavi, RAIN, CIUD and Lumanti, including two other partners Practical Action Bangladesh and SmartTech Solutions Nepal. The tools have the objective to enable water operators and decision-makers to set jointly with local users service level agreements, and support them in developing Asset Management plans. The tools also enable selecting a suitable water tariff and tracking the performance of water systems during their operational phase.
Our innovation
Three digital tools have been developed: (E-)learning environment, Android app and a Web-Dashboard. These are based on open-ended design processes, led by a local software developer SmartTech Solutions Pvd.
Learning environment
The learning environment is a user-friendly, and interactive digital training module on Asset Management. It consists of 3 different modules aimed at different target groups: from end users to WASH professionals. The modules can be followed consecutively, depending on the capacities and needs of the target groups. It is suitable for online learning by professionals and as a resource classroom facilitation and field training to local staff and communities. It contains concept descriptions, animated videos, case studies, short quizzes and practical assignments for learning.
You can click here to access our e-learning environment and create your own account.
Android smartphone app
The Android app aims to support Asset Management improvements, planning, implementation and monitoring in the field in a digital manner. The app contains a mobile cashbook, a maintenance plan, log and notification function and the option to insert water quantity and quality data.
Web-dashboard
The Web-Dashboard enables a two-way data interaction with the app. It aims to serve as an online visual dashboard for insights on maintenance performance and/or as a planning or financial tracking tool for stakeholders on a decision-making level.
Test our open-source digital tools
You are encouraged to test our applications (free of charge). We like to get your feedback and discuss further partnerships. Since the applications are in a Beta version, we request you to ask for login codes via our general email address: info@practica.org
Download the asset management infosheet
Our ambitions
For more than a decade, Practica does capacity building of the WASH sector in Solar-powered water systems (SPWS), for both domestic and productive uses. By now, several training materials on siting, (modular) design and installation of SPWS are available, however the rural water sector still has little knowledge and skills with respect to financial management and operation & maintenance (O&M) of SPWS and other water infrastructure. Therefore, Practica initiated the development of an open-source toolbox for Water System Asset Management (WSAM).
Our ambition is to scale this toolbox to relevant organisations in the field, so they can become true service providers that deliver sustainability on the long run instead of just temporary water access creators with easily fall in the trap of 'build-reject-rebuild' cycle.
Reach out for more information. Practica is also well-versed with other developments and applications in the sector, like mWater, and in the position to provide independent consultancy and training on how to sustainably plan, design and monitor your water assets.
View or download this brochure in PDF
Interested by the toolbox 'Asset management for drinking water systems'?
If you have any questions, contact us. And for more information on our impact, read our page on drinking water supply.