S
Safe water supply
Supply of water that is free from any form of disease-causing agents. (1)
Sanitation
The prevention of human contact with wastes, or the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces. (1)
Sanitation marketing
Satisfying improved sanitation requirements (both demand and supply) through social and commercial marketing process as opposed to a welfare package. (10)
Sector-wide approach (swap)
Development concept where all significant sector investments are channelled towards the same objectives and follow a consistent strategy that is guided by a consolidated investment plan. (3)
Self-supply
The construction and use of small-scale water schemes at household level, such as hand-dug wells. (6)
Sewerage
Network of underground sewer pipes in a town or city. (note this is not the same as ‘sewage’, which is the wastewater that flows through a sewer.) (14)
Situational analysis
Critical review of all aspects of a current situation in order to inform planning and decision making. (6)
Sludge drying beds
Shallow tanks where sewage sludge is left to dry out and can then be used as a soil improver. (14)
Small piped schemes
Water supply system with piped extension for distribution. users do not access water at the source but far away at the distribution point. (6)
Social accountability
Concept that deals with the accountability of the service providers to the user communities. (8)
Soft loan financing
Loan from foreign government or international financing institutions to be paid back but with a minimal interest rate. (10)
Software components
Activities that focus on knowledge, attitude and behavioural changes of the individual or the whole community (see ‘hardware components’). (10)
Stakeholder
An individual, organisation or group that has an interest in something, e.g. an enterprise, situation, project or programme. (3)
Strategies
Documents developed to operationalise policies, in other words to translate policies into action. (2)
Supply chain
Sequence of steps or processes or added components involved in making a product from start to finish. (9)
Sustainability
Concept describing projects and interventions that give due consideration to social, environmental and economic factors, and are therefore more effective and last for a long time. (3)
Synergy
The results of coordinated actions are greater than the sum of the individual actions. (4)