The document discusses the challenges and opportunities in regulating rural water safety, emphasizing the importance of providing safe drinking water in rural areas. It highlights the collaboration between various stakeholders, including academic institutions, government bodies, and professional water service providers, in developing results-based funding approaches to incentivize the delivery of safe water services. The need for flexible regulatory models to adapt to changing water service provisions, emerging water quality threats, and the proliferation of professional service providers managing small water systems is emphasized. The document also addresses the lag in drinking water safety in rural areas compared to urban areas, citing issues such as faecal and chemical contamination. It underscores the importance of regulations tailored to address the unique challenges faced in rural water service delivery, particularly in small water systems. Additionally, the document mentions the importance of water treatment options as part of advancing drinking water safety in rural areas.