ABSTRACT
Community participation is a cross-cutting issue throughout the project cycle. Particular attention should be given to institution building within the community aimed at increasing community awareness, self-reliance and efficient management. A development community committee was established as a management team in overseeing the project. The community approved of the significance of conducting an institutional training workshop for a week. For a small system in rural settings to be developed and for it to function in a sustainable manner, project committees at the community level should be recognized as essential civic organs for the success of the projects. Technologies are available for desalinating the brackish water. However, very little information is available in South Africa regarding the use of such technologies in rural areas. The South African Centre for Essential Community Services was established on 1 March 1996 by the Electric Power Research Institute and ESKOM, which is the national electric utility for South Africa.
