At the end of the 1980’s, effective O&M was recognised by the World Health Organization
(WHO) and several partner institutions as a key factor towards sustainable water supply
and sanitation systems. The Operation and Maintenance Working Group (OMWG) was
established with the objective of improving the performance of O&M of services in the
sector, and fell under the umbrella of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative
Council (WSSCC) in September 1990. The OMWG developed eight major tools, organized
several global, regional and national workshops, provided direct support to water agencies
in developing countries and promoted the need for effective O&M throughout the sector.
The strength of the OMWG lay in the professional expertise of its members and their ability to
progress activities in their own countries and regions. To further consolidate these strengths,
and to ensure continuity, the OMWG evolved into a network of professionals. In 2000, the
coordinator's role of the Network passed from WHO to the National Institute of Public Health
(NIPH) of Japan. In 2006 NIPH established a partnership with IWA to help further develop the
activities of the network.
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