This paper presents a model for community and institutional supply of potable water to the urban poor in the cities of developing countries, through an examination of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The model identifies ways of providing small-scale water supply systems for urban slum and squatter communities by following internationally recognised principles of potable water supply and building on existing recognised ‘good practise’. There are three main components of the proposed model: the community (the central actor), various complementary actors and potential local suppliers of finance and technology. The model sees a strong role for private sector investors. It is applicable to those cities where there is little or no problem with water availability but where the poor still do not have good access to potable water. The model does not claim to be a complete solution for the existing problem, but it will significantly aid the urban poor. It shows how the provision of basic services to the urban poor can be facilitated by the poor themselves.