Self-supporting community- based mitigation program that provides arsenic safe water using modified dugwells along with public education on water related health effects.
-
Meera Hira-Smith of Project WellImplementation Status: completed Thu 12 Aug 2010, Over 14 Years ago
Monthly Status report of July 2010
This dugwell is constructed on the bank of the ox-bow lake on the higher side as a result it gets dry during the summer season as the water level in the lake goes down. And in the rainy season the color of water is same as that of the lake, turbid, and emits slight organice smell. The water is used for other purposes.
- Impact Assessment (M&E) Phase Project completed on 31 Dec, 2008 Implementation Phase
- Implementation Phase Project started on 1 Jan, 2008 Preparation Phase
Self-supporting community- based mitigation program that provides arsenic safe water using modified dugwells along with public education on water related health effects.
Other Issues
Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution
Research and Development is part of the project. Research and Development is part of the project. The arsenic level was 11 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.
Learnings
Knowledge of project and process for sharing
Even though the quality of water is normal and no fecal coliform bacteria was detected and arsnic concentration way low few people are accepting 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
Impact
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 28
According to register records from July 2011, there are seven beneficiary families and 28 consumers now. The following are recorded in the register data: Male=19, Female=9 and child <5=0.
People Getting Other Benefits: 50
Health meeting and villages meetings have been organized in this community-based-group. The discussions 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.
Maintenance/Operating Costs Annual, in US$: $40
Creating and measuring long-term impact
Implementer: Aqua Welfare Society, West Bengal, India
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.
Funding
- Final Cost:
- $909