Abstract
In a Multi-Indicator survey published in 2013 by the National Bureau of statistics, has shown that over 70
million Nigerians have no access to safe water and thereby projecting Nigeria as the third globally ranked
number of people without access to safe water. However, the Nigerian constitution as contained in the second
Draft of the National water Resources Bill of April 2007 accords jurisdiction over rural water supply to states in
conjunction with the benefitting communities. The unbalanced community-government partnership in
relinquishing responsibilities in terms of ownership, control, improved service delivery and as well as provision
of the required technical know-how, has become a principal factor constraining sustainable rural water projects
in Anambra State for so long. It is evident from a deductive rational survey with what is obtainable in Nigerian
rural water projects as against 2007 constitutional provision that disclosed dormant rural water policy
propagation across the states and its docile forms of practice. Rural water projects are dynamic in nature, the
choice and use of good management approach or combination of approaches is always circumspect. Communitygovernment
partnership is a worthwhile management approach that acquaint with the strength and weaknesses
inherent in other management methods, and is able to use these effectively and circumspectly. This paper takes
detailed explanations at factors weighing-down the success of a sustainable water provision in the rural
communities in the State. We proffered a prolific approach to contain the plaguing constraints in the essential
elements of planning, participation, project implementation and water policies of the State. The idea in
community-government partnership is to strike a balance where the objectives of having sustainable rural water
projects are achieved through proactive co-operation.