The United Nations considers universal access to clean water a basic human right, and an essential step towards improving living standards worldwide. Water-poor communities are typically economically poor as well, their residents trapped in an ongoing cycle of poverty. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), distribution systems should make drinking water available so that people do not need to travel more than one kilometer from the place where they will use the water.

Masjid Council initiated the project in 2005 at Darogram village with partial support from the World Bank (through Social Development Foundation) with the follwing objectives: To facilitate and demonstrate alternative option for service, delivery of safe rural water supply to improve access, involving user participation in planning, implementation and operation.

• To encourage public-private partnership in rural water supply delivery.
• To facilitate operational sustainability through cost recovery and demand driven options by the water users in the village including vulnerable members of the community.
• To contribute towards poverty reduction through rural employment and
• To facilitate personal hygiene practice and quality of life of the user community.

The village Darogram is located at about 70 km west of Dhaka city, under Saturia upazila of Manikgonj District. Having a total population of about 6000, the village is characterized by average family size of 5.12 with 26 (3.47%) vulnerable households; the occupation of the villagers is diversified including farming (37%), trade and business (37%), service holders (13%). It was found that the underground water of the locality was contaminated with Arsenic and Iron prior to introducing the project, therefore most of them expressed their willingness to be a member of the drinking water supply network. . 

MACCA mobilized construction phase program from its existing office at Darogram. To enhance its capacity for technical supervision, necessary technical staff members were recruited and stationed at Darogram. During Construction Phase, Contractors were engaged for drilling, and other civil and mechanical works. Besides, technical supervision and certification and quantification of works were ensured by SDF design team periodically to ensure quality testing of materials, construction works etc.

MACCA is responsible for operation and maintenance of the water supply system as per its agreement administered with each individual consumer. The conditions of consumer agreement prescribe the responsibilities and obligations of MACCA and the beneficiaries. To establish transparency in operation, MACCA has identified a committee of 5 members, a representative body among the HH to ensure tariff collection and monitoring water loss from taps at user level. This committee also reviews the tariff collection periodically. It is agreed that MACCA would be continuing operation and maintenance of the system for a period of 15 years. MACCA’s contractual obligations include managing the personnel, discretion for procurement of materials, labor, goods and services needed for efficient operation and maintenance of the water supply system. Additionally MACCA performs the responsibility of setting tariff, billing and collection of water tariff etc. through consultative process with the community during operation phase.