Multiple Use Systems (MUS)
The Multiple Use Systems (MUS) approach to water recognises that poor people have multiple livelihood strategies that are dependant on multiple water sources. Using this understanding for planning water services can make a meaningful contribution to poverty reduction through improving access to appropriate amounts and quality of water for domestic uses, food security and income generating activities.
To achieve greater water security at village level, a holistic and integrated approach to water planning is needed; that is based on an understanding of people’s livelihood strategies and the role of water within them. In recognising the need to achieve greater water security at community level, an approach called ‘multiple-use water services’ (MUS) was proposed (Van Koppen et al. 2006). A MUS approach recognises people’s multiple water needs which are part and parcel of their multi-faceted livelihoods, and that the need to better meet people’s multiple water needs is a main driver for integration within the water sector itself.
The SWELL Programme operates within this context of multiple water services to meet multiple water and livelihood needs
For more details on MUS visit: www.musproject.net
