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

Narrative

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.