plan 231Providing Safe drinking water to Rural Government Primary Schools

Summary

Providing and installing Siphon water filter units including storage drum with lid, tap and tumbler in 35 Government Primary School premises for the use of rural students numbering 2,199 in the Sethubavachatram block of Tanjore District, Tamilnadu.

Background

In the Sethubavachatram Block, Tanjore District there are 37 Panchayat villages. In total, there are 77 nos. of Government Primary Schools and 22 nos. of Government Middle Schools functioning in this Block. Most of the Schools have drinking water source through the Panchayat and in some Schools the staff arrange for the drinking water from nearby households, public tap. But, the quality of water (contaminated with bacteria, etc.,) has not been studied so far.

Ekoventure NGO is coordinating 25 women SHGs with a total strength of 362 members in this block and in the monthly group meetings the women members had represented about providing safe drinking water to their children studying in these Schools on witnessing a demo on the performance of the Water filter. As of now, no work relevant to water has been carried out by any other organizations in the proposed villages.

Location

Sethubavachatram Block , Tamilnadu, South India, India

Attachments

  • Tanjore_...
  • Project_...
  • List_of_...
  • Budget.xls
  • Report_R...

Focus

Primary Focus: Water Purification
Secondary Focus: Drinking Water - Schools

People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 0

School Children Getting Water: 2,344

2,199 School Children and approximately 145 staff spread over in 35 nos. of Government Primary Schools in the Sethubavachatram block, Tanjore district will get safe drinking water

Data Source:
office of the Assistant Education Officer
Education Department
Sethubavachatram

People Getting Sanitation: 0

People Getting Other Benefits:

This project focuses on educating the rural school children studying in the 35 Schools on hygiene issues and particularly on the importance of “Hand Wash”.
The staff of the Schools will be trained on the day-to-day maintenance of the Water Filter.
This project has been designed based on the request of the women SHG members in the monthly meetings. Ekoventure is operating/guiding 25 women SHGs in this block. The women SHG members will also be trained in the hygiene issues.

Start Date: 2009-09-01

Completion Date: 2010-02-28

Technology Used:

Siphon Water Filter was successfully installed in the earlier projects implemented by Ekoventure in Schools, Anganvadis, libraries and Primary Health Centres in the villages of Villupuram District, Tamilnadu and in Pondicherry. The water purified using the water filter was tested for bacteriological analysis and in comparison with the unpurified water collected from the same source of Rope pumps installed in Villupuram district. The Total Coliforms (MPN – Index/100ml) was between 460 and >1100 and the Faecal Coliforms (MPN – Index/100ml) was between 9 and 14 in the untreated water samples and the population was absent in the case of filtered water.

Awareness meetings on the need of safe water will be conducted in all the 35 Schools with the support of the women SHG members.

Each School having strength of for every 50 Children will be provided with one Siphon Filter unit consisting of Siphon water filter, one stainless steel drum with lid and tap, one glass tumbler with a chain tied to the drum.

One simple poster on the use and maintenance of Siphon water filter will be displayed near the unit.

The staff of the School will be trained on the day-to-day maintenance of the water filter.

The field staff of Ekoventure jointly with the SHG leaders will monitor the usage of water filter and report in the Weekly SHG meetings.

Phases:

Yes, in one Phase for a period of 6 months and maintenance and monitoring will be done after the project completion period by the women SHGs functioning in that village and the School administration with the guidance of the NGO.

Community Organization:

The Water Filters to be installed in the Schools will be owned by the School and will be maintained by the women SHGs.

This project is taken up in the first phase in the villages where women SHGs motivated by Ekoventure do exist. The women SHGs in the respective villages have agreed to bear the costs related to the maintenance and replacement of filters.

Government Interaction:

Ancillary activities:

Other Issues:

Sethubavachatram block comprises of more coastal villages in the Tanjore district.

Maintenance Revenue:

The women SHGs have agreed to maintain the system and contribute towards the cost of replacement of filters in due course.
The annual amount required would be approximately 250

The women SHGs have agreed to contribute from their monthly savings for the continuance of the project. Further, based on the success of the project they also suggested to tie up this project with the Panchayat administration

Maintenance Cost: $250

Metrics:

Prior art before metrics

Cost: $2,146

See Attachment

Co Funding Amount:

Community Contribution Amount:

Community contribution is in terms of participation by the leaders of women SHGs in the awareness meetings for the children.
Weekly maintenance and monitoring of the units by the women SHG leaders on voluntary basis.

Fund Requested: $2,146

Attachments

  • Tanjore_...
  • Project_...
  • List_of_...
  • Budget.xls
  • Report_R...
  • 2 participants | show more

    Acqua for All support

    Saurin Shah of Team Blue

    I realise that Acqua for All support was provided for 5 villages in Auroville http://www.avalokita.org/en/index.php?pagina=safedrinking Have any of you tried fund raising from Aqua for All? http://www.aquaforall.nl/content.asp?page=17

    I realise that Acqua for All support was provided for 5 villages in Auroville
    http://www.avalokita.org/en/index.php?pagina=safedrinking

    Have any of you tried fund raising from Aqua for All?
    http://www.aquaforall.nl/content.asp?page=17

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Dr. Sastry, The Siphon Water Filter was introduced by us in 32 Coastal villages in the Villupuram District under the Green Post Tsunami Action Project funded by EU. Mr. Klas van der Ven from Basic Water Needs Foundation (www.basicwaterneedsfoundation.org), The Netherlands had started the production of these filters in India near...

      Dear Dr. Sastry,

      The Siphon Water Filter was introduced by us in 32 Coastal villages in the Villupuram District under the Green Post Tsunami Action Project funded by EU.

      Mr. Klas van der Ven from Basic Water Needs Foundation (www.basicwaterneedsfoundation.org), The Netherlands had started the production of these filters in India near Auroville during 2008 and now have improved the filters on various aspects like use of different tubes, shape of bulb that regulates the water, etc.,

      The day-to-day maintenance of these filters is simple. It requires backwash once in 3 days or once in a week depending on the type of water (more muddy or normal) we filter. All the spare parts are available in the production unit itself. Kindly refer the leaflet uploaded in our profile about the maintenance of the filters.

      The Acqua for All support provided for 5 villages in Auroville is being implemented by an NGO Palmyra, Auroville. In this project, purification of water from the community open well by using U.V system is adopted. We have witnessed one of the villages and the entire unit costs around Rs. 1 lakh.

      We have not approached "Acqua for All" for any funding

      regards

      Pushpalatha

  • 2 participants | show more

    handling and maintenance cost

    Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well

    Hi Pushpalatha, Great to see how the SHGs are willing to help the 35 schools in Tanjore district of TN. I have one suggestion about handling, it would be better to have more than one tumbler, perhaps four per 50 users. In the proposal it is written as glass but listed as steel tumblers in the budget. I would stick to steel, tall glasses so...

    Hi Pushpalatha, Great to see how the SHGs are willing to help the 35 schools in Tanjore district of TN. I have one suggestion about handling, it would be better to have more than one tumbler, perhaps four per 50 users. In the proposal it is written as glass but listed as steel tumblers in the budget. I would stick to steel, tall glasses so that the students hold at the bottom of the tumbler avoiding any contact with the rim of the glass. I am assuming they will drink water without touching thier lips to the rim of the glass as the Indians are expert in that skill. I understand washing of 4 glasses will be more work and use of detergent or washing agent but that would be safer than spreading contagious viruses.

    Regarding the maintenance cost please explain why USD250? Is it maintenance of all the 52+10 filters? Or should it be INR250 annually for cost of the whole system is only USD30?

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith, Thank you for the suggestions. We will certainly include 4 stainless steel tall glasses per 50 children. Regarding the maintenance cost: The budget of USD 250 is for the entire 52 + 10 filters in all the 35 schools. We have worked out INR 200 approximately per filter unit as annual maintenance cost. It include...

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith,
      Thank you for the suggestions.
      We will certainly include 4 stainless steel tall glasses per 50 children.

      Regarding the maintenance cost:
      The budget of USD 250 is for the entire 52 + 10 filters in all the 35 schools.
      We have worked out INR 200 approximately per filter unit as annual maintenance cost. It includes, cost of detergent, replacement of filter parts.

      Thanks and regards

      Pushpalatha

  • 2 participants | show more

    source of raw water and specs of filter

    Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well

    Hello Pushpalata, thanks for your response. A couple more questions: Where can I get information on specifications of the filter (candle) that supposedly removes bacteria since no disinfectant is used? At the schools what would be the source of water that would be filtered?

    Hello Pushpalata, thanks for your response. A couple more questions: Where can I get information on specifications of the filter (candle) that supposedly removes bacteria since no disinfectant is used? At the schools what would be the source of water that would be filtered?

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith, The Water filter produced and marketed by Basic Water Needs India uses candles imported from China. It is impregnated with Silver. The source of water in the 35 Schools have been studied. It is either from the local panchayat directly connected to School or the School staff collects water from near by public t...

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

      The Water filter produced and marketed by Basic Water Needs India uses candles imported from China. It is impregnated with Silver.

      The source of water in the 35 Schools have been studied. It is either from the local panchayat directly connected to School or the School staff collects water from near by public taps/households.

      regards
      Pushpalatha

      • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

        Please visit the website: http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter for details Pushpalatha

        Please visit the website:

        http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter

        for details

        Pushpalatha

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Please visit the website: http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter for details Pushpalatha

      Please visit the website:

      http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter

      for details

      Pushpalatha

  • 3 participants | show more

    Manufactue and Maintenance of the Siphon Water Filter

    Saurin Shah of Team Blue

    Dear Ms. Pusphalatha, Can you kindly provide the weblink for the Manufacturer of the Siphon Water Filter. You could also let us know more about the maintenance aspects too. Thanks & Regards Sastry

    Dear Ms. Pusphalatha,

    Can you kindly provide the weblink for the Manufacturer of the Siphon Water Filter. You could also let us know more about the maintenance aspects too.

    Thanks & Regards
    Sastry

    • Saurin Shah of Team Blue

      http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter

      http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Siphon_filter

    • Rick McGowan of Team Blue

      Unfortunately I have no experience whatsoever with siphon water filters, so I cannot comment in any depth. I only know what is reported below by Mr. Klas van der Ven from Basic Water Needs Foundation. What is an "SHG"? That acronym does not appear to be explained anywhere. It would be helpful if all costs described in the various subm...

      Unfortunately I have no experience whatsoever with siphon water filters, so I cannot comment in any depth. I only know what is reported below by Mr. Klas van der Ven from Basic Water Needs Foundation.

      What is an "SHG"? That acronym does not appear to be explained anywhere.

      It would be helpful if all costs described in the various submissions where given in both local currency as well as US$, so that system and O&M costs can be readily compared in different locations.

      The proposed one glass per 50 users is a great way to spread disease. Who will wash the glasses and where will they get the soap to properly do so? I agree with Meera that "4 glasses will be more work and use of detergent or washing agent but that would be safer than spreading contagious viruses."

      In addition to maintenance cost details, who will provide any necessary parts and training required to keep these systems running?

      • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

        Dear Rick McGowan, Thank you for the queries. SHG means Self Help Group. Women SHGs are formed and established as microfinance institutions with a minimum membership of 10-20 members per group. In our budget sheet (Excel), we have given costs in both local currency and USD. In our earlier reply in response to Meera Hira-Smith, we hav...

        Dear Rick McGowan,
        Thank you for the queries.

        SHG means Self Help Group. Women SHGs are formed and established as microfinance institutions with a minimum membership of 10-20 members per group.
        In our budget sheet (Excel), we have given costs in both local currency and USD. In our earlier reply in response to Meera Hira-Smith, we have agreed to the suggestion to include 4-5 glasses per unit.

        The detergents will be provided by the School authorities. The glasses will be regularly washed by the staff of the respective schools. Training will be given regularly by Ekoventure and the monitoring of the system will be carried out jointly by the respective women SHG-Ekoventure-School authorities. The maintenance costs/replacing of any parts will be carried out by the respective women SHGs.

        regards

        Pushpalatha

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Rick McGowan, Thank you for the queries. SHG means Self Help Group. Women SHGs are formed and established as microfinance institutions with a minimum membership of 10-20 members per group. In our budget sheet (Excel), we have given costs in both local currency and USD. In our earlier reply in response to Meera Hira-Smith, we hav...

      Dear Rick McGowan,
      Thank you for the queries.

      SHG means Self Help Group. Women SHGs are formed and established as microfinance institutions with a minimum membership of 10-20 members per group.
      In our budget sheet (Excel), we have given costs in both local currency and USD. In our earlier reply in response to Meera Hira-Smith, we have agreed to the suggestion to include 4-5 glasses per unit.

      The detergents will be provided by the School authorities. The glasses will be regularly washed by the staff of the respective schools. Training will be given regularly by Ekoventure and the monitoring of the system will be carried out jointly by the respective women SHG-Ekoventure-School authorities. The maintenance costs/replacing of any parts will be carried out by the respective women SHGs.

      regards

      Pushpalatha

  • 2 participants | show more

    regarding specifications of filter

    Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well

    Hello again, As I understand that the siphon is used to increase the flow rate. I have seen specs on the weblink of akvo that does say the bacteria is 99.99% free even after 7000 litres of water was passed through it. Was the water pre-treated, pipeline water? Or was the water from the pond or river? I have read somewhere that the sipho...

    Hello again,
    As I understand that the siphon is used to increase the flow rate. I have seen specs on the weblink of akvo that does say the bacteria is 99.99% free even after 7000 litres of water was passed through it. Was the water pre-treated, pipeline water? Or was the water from the pond or river? I have read somewhere that the siphon filtered water should be used within 24 hours and if there is any excess it should be passed through the filter again. Why is this done if there is no source of contamination? Does silver coating and the size of pores of the filter remove the pathogenic bacteria? Have you done any bacteriological tests yourself before implementing them elsewhere?
    I am asking these questions to see its viability in the community level using dugwell water by 10 families to discontinue use of disinfectant. In a controlled environment like school this system is viable for the flow rate is 4-6 litres per hour. Thank you for the information.

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith, The water that we use for filtering vary from muddy pond water, community tap water to borehole water (rope pump). Yes, the filtered water has to be used within 24 hours. We will furnish the detailed reasons from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India. We conducted bacteriological analysis of samples...

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

      The water that we use for filtering vary from muddy pond water, community tap water to borehole water (rope pump).
      Yes, the filtered water has to be used within 24 hours. We will furnish the detailed reasons from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India.

      We conducted bacteriological analysis of samples of filtered water and unpurified water collected from the same source of Rope pumps installed in Villupuram district at the notified lab of the Public Health Division, PWD, Pondicherry. The Total Coliforms (MPN – Index/100ml) was between 460 and >1100 and the Faecal Coliforms (MPN – Index/100ml) was between 9 and 14 in the untreated water samples (unfit for drinking purpose) and the population was absent in the case of filtered water.

      regards

      Pushpalatha

      • Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well

        good to know that the data given in the proposal was actually done by your group and not data from lab of the promoters/manufacturers. thank you and have a good day.

        good to know that the data given in the proposal was actually done by your group and not data from lab of the promoters/manufacturers. thank you and have a good day.

        • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

          Dear Meera Hira-Smith, Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India. The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added. Using dirty water ...

          Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

          Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India.

          The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added.

          Using dirty water the expected capacity of the filter will be less than 7000 liters, due to the frequency of cleaning the surface of the candle with the special scrub material that is included. Because of the back-washing of the filter by squeezing the bulb, the frequency of cleaning the candle surface will be reduced.

          Filtered water can be stored now for more than 24 hours, due to the very small amount of silver in the filtered water. Many bacteria removing tests have been done using contaminated surface water. So dug well water can be filtered with very good results.

          Further, I attach a pdf file received from him in the application

          regards

          Pushpalatha

      • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

        Dear Meera Hira-Smith, Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India. The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added. Using dirty water ...

        Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

        Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India.

        The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added.

        Using dirty water the expected capacity of the filter will be less than 7000 liters, due to the frequency of cleaning the surface of the candle with the special scrub material that is included. Because of the back-washing of the filter by squeezing the bulb, the frequency of cleaning the candle surface will be reduced.

        Filtered water can be stored now for more than 24 hours, due to the very small amount of silver in the filtered water. Many bacteria removing tests have been done using contaminated surface water. So dug well water can be filtered with very good results.

        Further, I attach a pdf file received from him in the application

        regards

        Pushpalatha

    • Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well

      good to know that the data given in the proposal was actually done by your group and not data from lab of the promoters/manufacturers. thank you and have a good day.

      good to know that the data given in the proposal was actually done by your group and not data from lab of the promoters/manufacturers. thank you and have a good day.

      • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

        Dear Meera Hira-Smith, Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India. The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added. Using dirty water ...

        Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

        Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India.

        The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added.

        Using dirty water the expected capacity of the filter will be less than 7000 liters, due to the frequency of cleaning the surface of the candle with the special scrub material that is included. Because of the back-washing of the filter by squeezing the bulb, the frequency of cleaning the candle surface will be reduced.

        Filtered water can be stored now for more than 24 hours, due to the very small amount of silver in the filtered water. Many bacteria removing tests have been done using contaminated surface water. So dug well water can be filtered with very good results.

        Further, I attach a pdf file received from him in the application

        regards

        Pushpalatha

    • S. Pushpalatha of Ekoventure

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith, Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India. The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added. Using dirty water ...

      Dear Meera Hira-Smith,

      Though it is too late, for further reference I herewith reproduce the clarifications received from Mr. Klas van der Ven of Basic Water Needs India.

      The filter removes more than 99.99% of bacteria using real contaminated water. Water tested was tap water with high amounts of bacteria added.

      Using dirty water the expected capacity of the filter will be less than 7000 liters, due to the frequency of cleaning the surface of the candle with the special scrub material that is included. Because of the back-washing of the filter by squeezing the bulb, the frequency of cleaning the candle surface will be reduced.

      Filtered water can be stored now for more than 24 hours, due to the very small amount of silver in the filtered water. Many bacteria removing tests have been done using contaminated surface water. So dug well water can be filtered with very good results.

      Further, I attach a pdf file received from him in the application

      regards

      Pushpalatha

  • Rating: 9

    review by Project Well

    Looking forward to the follow up information on the efficient use of the siphon system in the schools as the project is implemented.

  • Rating: 4

    review by Agua Para la Vida (APLV)

    Two things bother me about this project:
    Providing safe drinking water only to schoolchildren and only while they are at school.
    Children sharing their drinking recipients.

  • Not Reviewed

    by Pacific Institute

  • Not Reviewed

    by Dept. of Environment and Water Management A.N. College

  • Rating: 7

    review by Blue Planet Network

    Want to support this initiative and hope to document the results, especially ongoing after a year plus.

    Independent visits to the schools would be great.

  • Not Reviewed

    by Team Blue

Name Status Completion Date Final Cost
Providing Safe drinking water to Rural Government Primary Schools completed May 2010 2,146