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

Narrative

Initially for few months there were no users. AFter awareness programs/ health meetings few families started to use the dugwell water.

  • Meera Hira-Smith of Project Well
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: complete_unsuccessful Thu 12 Aug 2010, Over 13 Years ago

    Monthly Status report of July 2010

    Though the depth of this dugwell is 20 ft it gets dry in the summer months because of its location on the higher side of the area. Due to decrease in the rainfall in monsoon dugwells located in such areas are used only during the rainy season. In some areas people are abandoning the dugwells. The hand pump of this dugwell was stolen.

  • 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.

Narrative

Initially for few months there were no users. AFter awareness programs/ health meetings few families started to use the dugwell water.

Sustainability

Creating and measuring long-term impact

For 40 dugwells USD1360

Other Issues

Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution

Research and Development is part of the project. The arsenic level was 8 PPB tested on 30th June 2008. The Total coliform and Fecal coliform are 8 and 'undetected' respectively. 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 below the regular tubewell water people are not 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 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

For 40 dugwells USD1360

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

funded:
$1,171
Final Cost:
$1,171
$1,171:
Blue Planet Network

Plan/Proposal