Operation and maintenance (O&M) of drinking water supply systems refers to the day-to-day operation of water sources, treatment units, pumping and storage infrastructure, and distribution networks, along with planned and corrective maintenance activities required to keep the system functioning safely and reliably. In India, O&M is often discussed in the context of service sustainability, water quality compliance, and long-term asset management for both rural and urban supply schemes. Water supply systems are typically designed for multi-decade lifetimes, and O&M practices affect service continuity, pressure, water safety, non-revenue water (leakage and losses), energy use, and lifecycle costs. Many sector frameworks, therefore, treat O&M as part of a broader approach to asset management and service delivery, rather than only as repair work after failures. Overview O&M commonly includes: Operation: routine running of system components (source works, treatment, pumping, storage, distribution, and instrumentation such as flow/pressure monitoring) by trained personnel following operating procedures and safety requirements. Maintenance: actions to preserve or restore performance, including preventive (planned) maintenance and corrective or breakdown repairs. In rural drinking water policy, O&M is linked to local institutions and financing, including user charges and community participation under programme guidelines. In urban utilities, O&M is also associated with performance monitoring, leakage management, and utility asset management practices. Objectives Sector guidance commonly describes O&M objectives as achieving safe drinking water of required quality and quantity, with adequate pressure and reliability, while maintaining assets over their design life at sustainable cost. In India, rural programme guidance emphasises the sustained functionality of household tap water systems and local source sustainability measures. Water Quality Standards Operation and maintenance (O&M) of rural drinking water supply systems in India is linked to compliance with nationally prescribed drinking water quality standards and risk management practices. Drinking water quality specifications are defined under IS 10500:2012, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The standard specifies acceptable and permissible limits for physical, chemical, microbiological and radiological parameters in potable water. It prescribes limits for contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate and salinity, as well as microbiological indicators including total coliforms and ''Escherichia coli''. Compliance with IS 10500 serves as the benchmark for public water supply systems in rural areas, and O&M activities typically include periodic water quality testing, maintenance of treatment systems, chlorination, and corrective measures in the event of contamination. Water Safety Plans (WSPs) represent a preventive, risk-based approach to ensuring the safety of drinking water supplies from source to consumer. The framework is promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and focuses on systematic hazard identification, risk assessment and implementation of control measures across the supply chain. Unlike approaches that rely solely on end-point water testing, WSPs emphasise source protection, treatment process control, safe storage and distribution system management. In India, WSP principles have been incorporated into rural drinking water programmes to strengthen risk management practices at the village and scheme levels. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a structured water quality monitoring and surveillance framework has been established to improve oversight of rural drinking water supplies. The framework defines institutional responsibilities at village, block, district and state levels, and prescribes procedures for sample collection, field testing using water testing kits, laboratory confirmation in accredited laboratories, and digital reporting of results. Community participation is encouraged through the involvement of village-level water and sanitation committees and trained local volunteers. The surveillance system provides for periodic testing of water sources and household tap connections for chemical and bacteriological parameters, with remedial measures undertaken where results do not meet prescribed standards. Common challenges Guidance and utility literature commonly notes challenges such as incomplete asset records (including missing “as-built” drawings), inadequate preventive maintenance, leakage and high non-revenue water, energy inefficiency, insufficient staffing and training, weak cost recovery for recurring expenses, and fragmented institutional responsibilities across source, treatment, distribution, and water quality monitoring. Some additional claims (for example, quantified national averages of non-revenue water, staffing norms, or typical failure rates) require independent evaluations or utility benchmarking sources. Components of an O&M framework O&M frameworks described in Indian manuals and standards typically combine technical, managerial, and financial elements, including asset management, operating procedures, maintenance planning, monitoring, and governance arrangements. Asset management and inventories - Asset management generally involves maintaining an inventory of physical assets (pipes, pumps, reservoirs, valves, meters, treatment units), recording condition and failure history, and planning renewals and replacements. This may include GIS mapping, asset tagging, condition assessment routines, and renewal planning for high-risk assets. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety - SOPs commonly cover routine operational tasks, start/stop procedures for pumping and treatment units, emergency shutdown and restart, chemical storage and dosing practices, electrical safety, confined-space entry (where relevant), and incident response for contamination events or major failures. O&M frameworks often include training and safety protocols for operators and supervisors. Preventive, corrective, and breakdown maintenance - Preventive (planned) maintenance typically includes inspections, calibration, cleaning, lubrication, valve and meter checks, reservoir cleaning, and planned replacement of wear parts (for example, seals and bearings) to reduce failures. Corrective maintenance addresses observed defects before failure. Breakdown (reactive) maintenance restores service after failures such as pump breakdowns or pipe bursts. Monitoring, data systems, and performance indicators - Monitoring may include measurements of flow, pressure, storage levels, pumping hours, energy consumption, and treatment process parameters, alongside routine water quality testing. Some utilities use SCADA for real-time operations monitoring and CMMS/work-order systems for asset maintenance histories and scheduling. Specific claims about SCADA/CMMS prevalence and performance improvements should be supported by utility benchmarking or evaluation reports. Common indicators discussed for service delivery include continuity (hours of supply), pressure adequacy, complaint resolution times, non-revenue water, energy efficiency, and compliance with water quality standards. Financial planning and cost recovery O&M costs typically include staffing, electricity, chemicals, spares, laboratory testing, outsourced services, and routine repairs. Frameworks often recommend budgeting for recurrent costs and creating provisions for major repairs and renewals, sometimes through reserve funds or planned replacement schedules. Broader statements about cost recovery (tariff levels, user charges, sustainability) typically require supporting policy or evaluation sources Institutional arrangements and community participation (rural systems) Rural programme guidance often describes roles for local institutions such as Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) or Pani Samitis in day-to-day supervision, minor repairs, local monitoring, and grievance handling, with technical support from district and state agencies for larger repairs and system management. Community participation is also linked to local planning, source sustainability measures, and monitoring and reporting processes. Claims about effectiveness vary by context and need sources. Capacity building and human resources O&M depends on trained operators, electricians, pump mechanics, plumbers, supervisors, and water quality personnel. Multi-village schemes and systems with treatment plants typically require more specialized skills and structured supervision than small single-village schemes. Guidance commonly emphasizes periodic training, clear role definitions, and availability of troubleshooting support. Additional workforce norms and training effectiveness claims need evaluation sources. Transparency, accountability, and grievance redress Accountability mechanisms discussed in sector practice include grievance redress systems, public reporting of service indicators, audits, and periodic performance reviews of operational and financial outcomes. [citation needed] References CPHEEO O&M Manual JJM Operational Guidelines IS 10500:2012 (BIS IS 18182:2023 listing WHO Water Safety Plan manual page: WHO WSP manual JJM WQMS Framework EPA Water Reuse Overview