Abstract from the executive summary Our towns and cities are
rapidly expanding. Worldwide, over 50% of the population now
live in urban areas. In the developing world this rural-urban
shift is even more extreme. Now, for everylarge town there are
an estimated ten small towns – and these towns are expected to
double in both number and size within 15 years and then, within
30 years, to double again (Pilgrim, 2007). Whilst we may
recognise a small town when we see one, there are challenges in
defining and understanding them. Classification by population
size varies greatly, posing a significant challenge for the
design of appropriate and sustainable water and sanitation
services. Small towns can also show both rural and urban
characteristics, which can complicate problem-solving
approaches. In addition, most small towns tend to be diverse,
dynamic and constantly evolving. Generally characterised by
rapid unplanned growth leading to concentrations of low income
populations, people living in small towns are amongs