Report: Water & Sanitation & Beyond for 6 villages funded by Jevan Dhara

Water & Sanitation & Beyond for 6 villages funded by Jevan Dhara

Toilets and shower rooms

The villagers build ‘pour-flush’ twin pit latrines. Toilets and shower rooms are built at least 3m away from the house. To avoid flooding of latrine pits during the rainy season, the tops of the platform and the pits are 0.45-0.6 m above ground level. Villagers are encouraged to grow banana, papaya and coconut trees around toilet soak pits to leach excess water, so that the pit can be used for at least five years before it becomes full and waste must be diverted to the second pit. By the time the second pit is full, the contents of the first have been composting for at least five years and the pathogens have been destroyed. This compost can then be used on the kitchen gardens. In addition, Gram Vikas continues to educate adults and children alike about environmental sanitation.

Water supply system
The water supply system consists of a water source (may be an open well , a gravity flow or tube well ) from which water is pumped or through hydraulic force reaches an overhead storage tank. The capacity of the storage tank is calculated at 40 litres per person per day requirement .From the tank water is supplied through pipelines to individual families. Each family has three taps- in the toilet, the bathing room and the kitchen. Testing of water quality is carried out before the source is finalized and frequent testing of water is done before and after the monsoons. In case of open wells, chlorination is done before and after the monsoons. By following all of these steps a clean environment is maintained and there is little danger of fecal-related infections.

Maintenance of water supply systems
In order to meet the regular cost of supplying water and electricity tariffs, the Village Executive Committee generates a maintenance fund. This fund is used to pay tariffs, pay for the pump operator’s salary and other incidental repairs and maintenance. The maintenance fund is generated through individual household contribution, revenues generated from common resources like community horticulture, pisciculture or from share of harvest.

Implementation
As previously stated, when Gram Vikas enters into partnership with a village, it starts with assisting the village to set up a democratic village society, which will act as the driving force throughout the process of construction, commissioning and long term maintenance of the water supply and sanitation system.
Construction begins with toilets and shower rooms and then moves onto the water source, water tank, pump, pipes and fittings to bring running water to each household in the village. In the process local youth, men and women are trained in masonry and plumbing activities. Alongside community members and members of the Village institution undergo training in leadership development, SHG management, health and hygiene education etc.

The rural areas of India are replete with abandoned, non-functioning sanitation facilities due to inadequate under funded designs.

Since Gram Vikas first started its water supply and sanitation programme, over 95% of the villages where the facilities were installed still have functioning toilets, shower rooms and a kitchen water supply.

Gram Vikas does not begin working with a village until they have come up with plans for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the infrastructure (cost of electricity, pump operator’s wages and spare parts). Technicians are trained within the village community as pump operators and for plumbing needs.
Community assets like village forests, ponds etc are developed to generate income for the community and the O&M costs. Gram Vikas keeps records of the villages’ financial viability and can assist the village to find ways of covering their operation and maintenance costs if necessary.

Gram Vikas staff remain with the village for a period of 3 to 5 years once all the construction is completed. A lot of effort goes into motivating men, women and children to use and maintain the toilets appropriately. Good hygienic habits are taught to both adults and children as well as promoting the cleanliness of the village. The sanitation committee imposes fines for infractions and regularly has cleanliness drives.

During this phase Gram Vikas builds on the skills of the village committees to manage their sanitation and water supply system and facilitates the participation of women and other vulnerable groups.