The objective of this study is to evaluate the technical sustainability of rural water supplyrnsituation in South Wollo zone in the Amhara Regional State. The evaluation of waterrnsupply in selected rural areas is based on desk study of relevant literature and findings ofrnthe field assessment on the performance of the water supply systemsrn.rnThe study is carried out in two Woredas of south Wollo zone by visiting 29 water supplyrnschemes. The three types of water supply technologies studied in the thesis are hand dugrnwells, spring development, and shallow borehole. Inadequate delivery of rural waterrnsupply system services, due to so many, difficulties are inhibiting the access ofrncommunities to basic Water Supply System infrastructure services. Existing facilities arernoften poorly constructed and insufficiently maintained, and do not adequately providernurgently needed basic services. The major problems, which are noticed in the samplernwater supply projects, are structural defects, quality, quantity, non reliability,rninconvenience, too much user, lack of maintenance and repair, lack of trained person,rnattitudinal problem etc.rnAmong the numerous factors that contributed to the poor performance of the schemes, therntwo key reasons are technical and institutional problems. Poor facilities design, poorrnconstruction, and lack of provision for system management and operation andrnmaintenance, Limited policy implementation, Lack of capacity to keep the systemrnrunning after project completion, poor cooperation between the water agent and users,rnlack of involvement of the community in the planning and construction process have alsorncompounded the problemsrnIn the paper different kinds of water technologies suitable for small villages are discussedrnas options, by giving attention to VLOM Hand pumps and renewable energy IE solar andrnwind pumps.rnThe recommendations stress on the need for proper and routine O&M program, need ofrnquality checking and control, importance of cooperation between different water supplyrnimplementing agencies, need for encouraging community involvement as the key tornensure project sustainability and reduction of costs, and on implementing systematic andrndecentralized management and monitoring system of water supply schemes at the villagernlevel.