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Rural areas in developing countries are confronted with lack of access and unsustainable provision of water supply services. Community based management has been a prominent model of managing rural water supply systems but recently private operator model has picked up popularity as a complementary and/or an alternative management model. However little is known about private operators particularly in rural areas since the context in rural areas is characterized by the presumption of not being very favorable to conventional water supply by utilities. Private operators are promoted for their advantages in bringing in private resources, technology and innovation in water supply sector however their motivation for commercial returns are challenged by the nature and contexts of rural areas. Public Private Partnership is a common trend which has been employed to engage private operators in water supply. Although Public Private Partnership in water supply has been a debatable concept for decades the discussions only dwell in urban water supply because private sector is uncommon in rural areas.This qualitative research explored the concept of sustainability of rural water supply services under private operation. Under the general umbrella of the aspects of sustainability this research looked at the relationship of four elements their effect on private operator in rural areas and these include the investment, time, revenues and market size. It also looked at the factors that affect private operators and the feasibility of private operators regarding the rural context. The research followed the case study methodology and used the Public Private Partnership project implemented by the Netherlands Development Organization in Bunda district, Tanzania.The research found that private operators are confronted with a more complex working environment in rural areas than generally anticipated. Despite the potential offered by the rural communities for private operators their economic, so