CommunityOrganizedHouseholdWaterIncreasesNot Only Rural incomes, but AlsoMen’sWork

This paper explores community-organized, household water supply in seven communities in western Kenya. We compare water use, labor use, income and the conditions for collective action in three sets of communities: two have protected springs and piped homestead connections; two have protected springs but no homestead connection; and three draw potentially contaminated water from unprotected springs. We ï¬nd that piped water reduces the work of women and girls, and facilitates home garden and livestock production. Together these changes lead to increased household incomes. Women recognize clear time-beneï¬ts. Men, however, experience extra work. No overall pattern emerges regarding the preconditions for collective action.