The accomplishments of this ten-year period now represent history. The massive effort on the part of the world community to provide water supply and sanitation to the entire population of the planet had a noble goal. However, now that the results have been recorded, it is quite obvious that an even greater effort will have to be expended in the future in order to provide these essentials of life and civilization to the world's masses. Although the goals of Water Decade were not entirely met it was a success in the sense that it provided a very clear direction for the future and identified problems which must be responded to if these services are to be increased, particularly with regard to developing countries. The water Decade illustrated the need to provide certain programmes and activities to achieve successful projects.
Good planning is essential for providing water and sanitation services.
If the environment is to be preserved, projects cannot be started without a fundamental plan outlining the scope, services required, actions to be taken and ultimate operation of the facilities. It is essential to provide appropriate technology for the services to be furnished. It is unreasonable to provide high technology equipments in an area, which requires the simplest of facilities to solve local problems. To provide high technology equipment at a high cost with difficult operating conditions is not appropriate in many instances in developing countries. Participation Projects, which proved successful, were those, which involved the participation of the people to be served.