Leaving no one behind is the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A water or sanitation service cannot be said to serve the whole community if it is unaffordable, unreliable, unhygienic, or unsafe in its location.

The human right to water entitles everyone to access sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use.

The journey toward achieving this right begins long before water reaches a household tap.

Water supply distribution networks are first conceptualized to meet the needs of communities. These concepts are then translated into detailed engineering designs, which form the basis for estimating construction costs.

With approved detailed drawings and a Bill of Quantities, duty-bearers are able to review, refine, and ultimately approve plans for construction. Once approved, agents of the duty-bearer engage contractors through established public procurement guidelines. The successful bidder then undertakes the demanding task of execution.

Using the Bill of Quantities and detailed drawings, the contractor mobilizes the required equipment—such as backhoes and excavators—to excavate pipeline trenches. The choice in equipment is based on roadway width and pipeline alignment.

During construction, careful attention is paid to trench depth, proper jointing of pipes (plain end into hub end), and initial backfilling with suitable material, typically sand. The integrity of the pipeline and its joints is verified through hydrostatic testing.

Once the test is successfully completed, the contractor proceeds with sterilizing the pipeline before homes and families are connected to the new water supply network.

Achieving the objective of Leaving no one behind is not possible without the commitment and diligence of civil works contractors and supervising engineers. Their adherence to standards, attention to detail, and accountability at every stage of construction are essential to delivering safe, reliable, and equitable water services for all.