Factors affecting sustainability of rural water schemes in Swaziland

► Long term sustainability of rural water schemes in Swaziland is a challenge. ► Technical and social factors critical for sustainability of water schemes. ► Financial and institutional factors important but play a lesser role in sustainability. ► Problematic technical factors are: maintaining design flow, water fetching time, and condition and functioning of system. ► Maintaining design flow more problematic in winter (dry season) when water tables low.