In 1990, the government of Punjab, Pakistan introduced community-based water governance in dual water zone areas (sweet and brackish). The jointly completed rural water supply (RWS) was handed over to a community-based organization (CBO), accompanied by CBO members' training and signing of the agreement for adherence to rules by the CBOs and the government. The study is framed in the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework and collaborative policy design to comprehend the self-organizing capabilities of CBOs in ensuring compliance with institutions in a collaborative process for RWS governance. There has been little investigation as to why and how the CBOs tend to comply with rules-in-form and how the informal rules influence the operation & maintenance (O&M) of RWS. The results of focused group interviews with CBO members, community, and government officials reveal that the formal institutions partially adhered. Still, the self-organizing capabilities of the CBOs sustain the RWS. Some households are unwilling to get a water connection and pay charges. At the same time, others with water connections are unwilling to pay. These are some of the challenges in the O&M of RWS and reasons for the CBO's financial deficit, which are covered through philanthropic donations, a predominant local value. The study proposes a water metering system, payment for consumption, and mandatory water connections for the RWS.
Keywords: Rural Water Supply, Institutional Analysis and Development Framework, Collective Action, Collaborative Design, Collaborative Compliance
