To combat high mortality resulting from water-related diseases, A.I.D. has conducted a project to develop safe drinking water and sanitation systems for rural residents of northwest Honduras. This report evaluates the Government of Honduras' (GOH) operation and maintenance (O&M) of these systems. The report first reviews basic concepts essential to successful rural water system management, including factors that make rural program O&M more difficult (e.g., widespread location, service unreliability, equipment deterioration, recurrent and capital costs, inadequate trained personnel and funding, and high equipment usage); the management of rural O&M efforts and design and construction decisions relating to O&M are also discussed. Next, the existing O&M situation in northwest Honduras is discussed. The report concludes that no plan exists to ensure the long-term O&M of project-installed gravity-fed aqueducts, hand pumps, and latrines. A proposed plan, developed by the consultant in cooperation with the GOH, is presented (in Spanish in the appendix) along with recommendations for its implementation. The report includes a 12-item bibliography (1973-84) of English and Spanish titles.