Self-supporting community- based mitigation program that provides arsenic safe water using modified dugwells along with public education on water related health effects.
Narrative
People are repulsive to the chlorine and the slight organic odor. It seems though the source of water of some shallow tubewells is the surrounding water bodies that is not visible to people who only see the crystal clear water as it is pumped, it does not affect them visually whereas they can see the dugwell water and knows that it comes from the surrounding water bodies and some how psychologically they are put off. it is the mindset and also arsenic is invisible in tubewell water and has no taste hence people prefers it to dugwells.
Sustainability
Creating and measuring long-term impact
For 40 dugwells USD1360
Other Issues
Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution
Research and Development is part of the project. The arsenic level was 17 PPB tested on 30th June 2008. The Total coliform and Fecal coliform are 'undetected' . Date of water collection for bacteria tests was on 6th December 2008.
Learnings
Knowledge of project and process for sharing
Though the arsenic level is low 17 PPB and bacteria, total and fecal are 'undetected' and the water is clear, normal nobody is using the dugwell water. There is a need of more publicity of the use of the dugwell water. Promoting this modified design of dugwell through media, newspaper, TV, Radio is lacking that would have enhanced the efficient use of self managed water systems.
Impact
People Impacted: 46
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 46
According to the register record of July 2011 the total consumers=46; Families=11; Male=26, Female=20, children <5 =3 and students =15.
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only two families.
People Getting Other Benefits: 50
Health meeting and villages meetings have been organized in this community-based-group. The discussion were on arsenic health effects and personal hygiene. A training program on the maintenance of the dugwells (including chlorination) is given to develop a sense of ownership and to make the program sustainable.
