==Key Documents==
* Batchelor, C., Fonseca, C., and Smits, S., 2011. [http://www.irc.nl/page/66835 Life-cycle costs of rainwater harvesting systems]. (Occasional paper series / IRC; 46). The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <http://www.irc.nl/page/66835> In partnership with IRC and the Rainwater Harvesting Implementation Network, WASHCost studied the historical trends and drivers of adopting Rain Water Harvesting (RWH). Detailed comparisons are made between life-cycle costs of RWH systems and the life-cycle costs of other water supply systems. * Burr, P. and Fonseca, C., 2011. [http://www.washcost.info/page/1626 Applying the life-cycle costs approach to sanitation : costs and service levels in Andhra Pradesh (India), Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mozambique]. (WASHCost briefing note; 3). [online] The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <http://www.washcost.info/page/1626>
This briefing note presents an application of the life-cycle costs (LCCA) approach to sanitation in rural and peri-urban areas in four different countries— Andhra Pradesh (India), Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mozambique. The document compares the differences between the financial costs of traditional and improved latrines, and the quality of service delivered to users.
* Fonseca, C. et al., 2011. [http://www.washcost.info/page/1557 Life-cycle costs approach ]: costing sustainable services. (WASHCost briefing note; 1a). The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <http://www.washcost.info/page/1557>
This briefing note describes the life-cycle costs approach and why it was developed. It explains the main cost components for water and sanitation in rural and peri-urban areas.
* IRC, 2012a. [http://www.washcost.info/page/2386 Providing a basic level of water and sanitation services that last : cost benchmarks ]. (WASHCost infosheet; 1). The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <http://www.washcost.info/page/2386>
Information sheet provides an overview of the minimum benchmarks for costing sustainable basic services in developing countries. The benchmarks have been derived from the WASHCost project dataset and the best available cost data from other organisations all over the world. The benchmarks are useful for planning, assessing sustainability from a cost perspective and for monitoring value for money.
* IRC, 2012b. [http://www.washcost.info/page/2439 The cost of sustaining sanitation services for 20 years can be 5-20 times the cost of building a latrine]. (WASHCost infosheet; 2). The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <* Smits, S. et al., 2011. [http://www.washcost.info/page/2439>Smits, S. et al., 2011. 1567 Arrangements and cost of providing support to rural water service providers]. (WASHCost working paper; 5). The Hague, The Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: <http://www.washcost.info/page/1567> * WHO and UN-Water, 2012. [http://washurl.net/6jo133 UN-Water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2012 report : the challenge of extending and sustaining services]. (UN-water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) report; 2012). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization (WHO). Available at: <http://washurl.net/6jo133>
==Links==