Résumé
Drawing on recent research, policy reports, and interviews, this chapter explores what the term "off-grid" – originally borrowed from the energy sector – means in the water sector. Off-grid water solutions encompass a wide range of arrangements, many of which have long existed to serve populations whose needs are unmet by water utilities. What has changed over the past decade, however, is the shift in perspective: once viewed as temporary fixes until network expansion, off-grid solutions are now increasingly seen as a desirable and sustainable option for achieving SDG 6.1 (universal access to safe and affordable drinking water). This chapter critically examines the expectations placed on off-grid solutions and reviews the challenges that must be overcome to position them as a viable alternative to centralised piped water supply. A key question emerges: How should public authorities adapt the governance and regulation of complex, fragmented water supply systems in order to ensure equity, continuity, quality, and protection of water resources?