About half the population does not have access to an improved water source, defined as a protected well, standpipe or a handpump within 1 km.

Displaced people returning home put a huge strain on infrastructure, and the government institutions in charge of the sector are weak.

Substantial external funding from numerous government agencies and non-governmental organizations is available to improve water supply.

The White Nile and the Bahr el Ghazal River flow in the Sudd, a large seasonal swamp in the heart of the country.

It is reported by WASHWatch that the total number of people in South Sudan lacking access to an "Improved" Water Supply in 2015 was 5,015,000.

Important external partners in the water sector are Germany, Japan, the United States and the World Bank.

[3] Donors of the MDTF include the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Commission, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Iceland, Greece, Canada, Spain, Egypt and the World Bank.

[8] Numerous non-governmental organizations support water supply in Southern Sudan, such as the Obakki Foundation[9] from North America, Caritas, GOAL from Ireland, Concern Worldwide from Ireland, the International Rescue Committee, Medair, Oxfam and Save the Children UK, and the locally led Water is Basic.