Report: Arsenic free dugwell (PW92SU17) funded by Group Mosaique, Sagney, Canada

Self-supporting community- based mitigation program that provides arsenic safe water using modified dugwells along with public education on water related health effects.

Research and Development is part of the project. Research and Development is part of the project. The arsenic level was 25 PPB tested on 30th June 2008. The Total coliform and Fecal coliform were both 'undetected'. Date of water collection for bacteria tests was on 6th December 2008.

Even though the quality of water is normal and no fecal coliform bacteria was detected and arsenic concentration is low people are not using this traditional mode of water supply. There is a need of more publicity of the use of the dugwell water that are being used in the neighboring villages. 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.

The water tastes excellent as reported by the visitors to this site. It is indeed very difficult to change people habit and mindset. It took a while for the colgate toothpaste to replace the twigs of neem tree, salt and also ash of cow dung. Now every household in the village use toothpaste or powder.

Aqua Welfare Society, AWS, is the partner NGO. Their office is based in the North 24 Parganas. The 8 honorary board members are located in Kolkata. There are only 5 field workers who are interacting with the villagers and beneficiaries, training the users on maintenance of the dugwells, organizing village meetings and health meetings. A technical advisor of AWS is based in Kolkata who visits the village occasionally and one awareness programmer who is in charge of awareness programs in the communities and educational institutions. There is an accountant and also a data entry person on part time basis.