Decentralised supply systems offer the possibility to provide safe drinking water where centralised supply systems are not feasible for economic or political reasons (e.g. in rural communities or informal settlements). Decentralised water supply refers to the small-scale purification and distribution o water. The decentralised treatment systems fall into three main categories: point-of-use systems (POU), point-of-entry systems (POE), and small-scale systems (SSS). POU and POE systems are designed for individual households while SSS can provide for community water supply, for emergency water supply in camps, or to purify water for sale in water kiosks. The choice of decentralised supply system depends on the local context and includes such factors as ease of use, maintenance needs, dependence on other utilities (e.g. electricity, fuel supply), and cost.
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