34. The application of appropriate technology has also played an important role in solving the water quality problem of special groups who were often particularly vulnerable. An example of this has been the utilitation of slow sand filters combined with multi-tap standposts at refugee camps in southern Somalia. A system was introduced for surveillance of microbiological quality of village supplies in Malawi where technicians from the Department of Water using portable testing equipment and motorcycles can cover large areas by avoiding the need to return samples to a central laboratory. 35. Efforts during the Decade have demonstrated that the application of low-cost appropriate technologies can have a significant impact in lowering both initial investment and operating costs, as well as on improving the reliability of systems. The application of such technologies has been suclcesaful in rural areas as a result of concentration of efforis in this sector. As a general rule, however , the expansion of services to urb,?n areas has continued to rely on conventional capital intensikvct systems. Nevertheless, a significant potential exist8 for the application sppropriate low-c>st technologies for the provision of services to urban areas, in particular to thP increasing number of urban poor dwellers. 4. -atiOn of water su~plv and Sanitation inLQ develoument activitiu 36. In rural areas of developing countries where water resources exploitation is normally undertaken mainly for irrigation or livestock production, the potential for improving health and well-being through integrating water supply and sanitation components into agricultural development programmes has increasingly been recognized and promoted through the available low-cost appropriate technologies and approaches developed within the framework of the Decade. Conversely, improvements in health and social conditions associated with the provision of safe drinking water supplies have further promoted the development of small-scale crop and vegetable production and poultry rearing.
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the application of technology to solve water quality problems in developing countries, particularly in rural areas. It highlights the use of low-cost and appropriate technologies to improve water supply and sanitation, and their potential to benefit both rural and urban populations. The text also touches on the integration of water supply and sanitation with agricultural development programs, which suggests a connection to economic development and humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Health, Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief