Operation and Maintenance Network

The poor performance and sometimes complete breakdown of water supply and sanitation systems due to lack of operation and maintenance (O&M) has many adverse impacts.

At one level, systems may operate inefficiently reducing the quality of services, but at worst can result in total loss of service. System failure is a serious threat to the well-being and health of communities and the environment in which they live. However, despite the recognition of its importance, O&M issues are still widely neglected at all levels in the sector, especially in developing countries.

The Operation and Maintenance Network (OMN) facilitates the networking of service providers, external support agencies with experienced practitioners and expert researchers. Its main function is to exchange experiences, knowledge and information to improve the operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation systems, with particular emphasis on the needs of its members in low and middle income countries.

The Network achieves this through:

• The dissemination of key reference material, manuals and tools, and case studies through the OM Toolbox. These provide practical guidance and evidence-based materials.
• Technical guidance and advice for eligible members in low and middle income countries in response to specific requests through the O&M advisory service.
• The synthesis of existing knowledge and generation of new information in the form of commissioned documents to fill gaps in knowledge and to produce new tools for the OMN toolbox.
• Capacity building events and training workshops on O&M issues, which are linked to broader objectives to promote the OMN and to facilitate the formation of in-country partnerships to address O&M issues.

For further details on the Operation and Maintenance Network and the above described services, refer to OMN internet portal at www.operationandmaintenance.net.