Efforts to improve water quality and quantity, and sanitation in the world are impeded by a variety of technical and socioeconomic issues often unfamiliar to well-motivated individuals. Sustainable technological improvement can be thwarted by the lack of consideration of regional norms, customs, mores, and traditions, and by the absence of feasibility assessment and coordination with the community both before and during instatement of local improvements. Specifically, the absence of coordination means not fully allowing users to define their needs, resources, issues, and maintainable solutions, and not understanding local and regional power dynamics and the ability of the community to provide long-term project stewardship. Other mistakes can include: a lack of long-term planning; inadequate scientific and engineering design and construction; lack of anticipation of contingencies and complicating issues and lack of adaptive management to deal with these unforeseen events; use of inappropriate technology; absence of educational efforts (both for the community to understand and provide stewardship for the project, and for the education of those installing the facilities in the community); lack of follow-up; and lack of technical expertise and leadership. There is no single approach to water and sanitation development that fits all situations. However, avoiding common pitfalls can bring these important resources to villages worldwide, and in the process empower communities, reduce sickness and mortality, and improve the human condition.

Abstract The need to ensure reliable and secure water supply at United Nations bases in Bosnia Hercegovina led to a hydrogeological and water supply reconnaissance (recce) of each base to determine the feasibility of constructing boreholes within the base perimeter. The recce was conducted under full security measures at a time when the armed conflict in central Bosnia was at its fiercest. Fieldwork was severely limited by the ongoing war. Facilities such as generators, vehicle repair yards, and latrines excluded certain areas within the perimeter wire and restricted where boreholes could be sited. Despite the disruption to the infrastructure and government caused by several years of conflict, some site-specific information was obtained. All sites were assessed as having a good potential for ground water. Preliminary well designs were determined. These were accepted and well drillers were deployed to Vitez, Gornji Vakuf, and Tomislavgrad. Following the deployment of the drillers to Bosnia, the author was able to use his experience of the ground to advise during the well construction phase. The author also provided advice on slope stability along parts of the main supply route (MSR) near Prozor and on the location of suitable borrow pits for material to maintain the surface of the MSR near Redoubt Camp. The participation of the Royal Engineer Specialist Advice Team geologist in Operation Grapple continued the tradition of geological input into recent major British army operations such as those in the Falklands, the Gulf, and northern Iraq.