a newsletter on rural water and sanitation in India Vol 6 No 1 July - Nov 2003 INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE A strategy for fluoride mitigation in rural drinking water systems A case study of Maharashtra (INDIA) Y LIBRAR O PHOT UNICEF: TESY COUR Approximately 66 million people in India are at risk of fluorosis. A According to Government Water and Sanitation Program- report, a concept note for estimates, approximately 66 million South Asia (WSP-SA) to provide a the development of a fluoride people in India are at risk of long-term solution to the problem. mitigation strategy in Maharashtra fluorosis (which is more than The process to develop an was formulated. 5 percent of the total population). appropriate framework through Based on a situational Maharashtra is one of 16 states which a fluoride mitigation strategy assessment of three other fluoride- in India where excess fluoride in can be operationalized was initiated affected districts ­ Nagpur, drinking water and associated by the GoM in mid-November 2002 Chandrapur and Nanded ­ in April fluorosis are known to be endemic. through a request for support. In 2003, a review of common issues Although the situation is not response, WSP-SA commissioned was presented in a discussion critical, the Government of a preliminary mission in Yavatmal, a paper on `Water quality in Maharashtra (GoM) is developing a major fluoride-affected district in Maharashtra: Situation analysis and strategy for fluoride mitigation for the state, in mid-February 2003. recommendations' along with the state in collaboration with Building on the findings of the a set of recommendations. A consultative workshop of stakeholders held in Nagpur on About the workshop August 19-20, 2003 debated the discussion paper at length. This initiative received the support `Rural Water Quality in Maharashtra,' Nagpur, Aug 19-20, 2003 of the State Water Supply and The objective of the workshop was to formulate a responsive and Sanitation Minister. appropriate strategy for fluoride mitigation based on the feedback Inputs from participants suggest of stakeholders and policy makers. that a strategy for improvement of About 70 participants attended the workshop, including state and district officials from the Public Health and the Water Supply drinking water quality and safety and Sanitation Departments, and representatives from UNICEF management should necessarily be and the private sector. mainstreamed within the setting of Technical and institutional aspects were deliberated with regard to the rural drinking water system of their impact on health, and the need for water quality management, the entire state, from the gram based on a collaborative multi-agency approach was stressed. panchayat to the district and Four main themes were discussed: institutional arrangements, state level. Indeed, the existing capacity gaps, water quality monitoring systems, and research institutions provide the and development. framework for operationalizing A detailed strategy for fluoride mitigation is under preparation such an exercise. The based on the workshop recommendations. effectiveness of this approach will be ensured by inter-departmental checks and the transfer of funds across departments. of the strategy would be to responsive and sensitive to The approach will be driven by address the issue of fluoride, this issues of water quality and the two crucial aspects: integration of would also require a reorientation associated health effects. water and health-related issues; in the philosophy of provision of and the effective linkage between rural water supply services so that For further information, contact: surveillance and mitigation the institutions delivering rural Water and Sanitation Program-South Asia 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003 measures. Both aspects need drinking water become more wspsa@worldbank.org to be operationalized at each level ­ that is, the gram panchayat, district and state level. A Strategy Paper detailing the overall framework is being developed. SANISAT Requirements for amendments to legislation, a capacity-building Sources of Drinking Water in India plan and training modules, Handpumps and wells are a common computerized MIS, IEC campaigns, source of drinking water for most Indians. Out of 36% with access to tap water R&D inputs required and a only 17% have it in their premises business plan with up-front and recurrent costs will also be included. Once the broad principles Others 9.6% are endorsed by the GoM, a Wells 18.2% Project Implementation Plan (PIP) Handpumps would be formulated which will 36.7% Taps focus on aspects critical to setting 38.7% up a fluoride mitigation system. The PIP would then be operationalized in four pilot districts by June 2004. Clearly, a strategy for mitigating fluoride cannot be considered in isolation from overall issues of water quality management. SOURCE: CENSUS OF INDIA, 2001. THE TIMES OF INDIA (DELHI EDITION) NOV 7, 2003 While the primary objective 2 ETCETRA EDITORIAL Issues of water quality are becoming increasingly Notice Board significant in the provision of rural drinking water supply services. In this issue of Jalvaani, we review a ADB Water Week 2004 comprehensive approach to water quality management that is being developed in Maharashtra to mitigate the Organized by Asian Development Bank problem of fluoride in drinking water in the state. The January 26-30, 2004 strategy integrates water and health-related issues and Manila creates effective linkages between surveillance and Theme: Water for the Poor: Setting the Rules mitigation measures. This will not require any and Finding the Money significant change in the way drinking water is delivered For details, contact: but will be based on a mix of education Ellen Pascua: epascua@adb.org and capacity-building on the software side, and monitoring and technology on the hardware side, and mainstreamed through existing institutions. Water Week 2004 Participatory approaches are essential to ensure the Organized by the World Bank sustainability of community-based programs. For this February 24-26, 2004 it is necessary to involve the community at the various Washington, DC stages of the project cycle. In Kasargod, Kerala, Theme: Diving into Implementation communities have developed simple tools to monitor and evaluate progress of implementation of schemes that are accessible to all members of the community. Borban, Maharashtra provides an example of how community solidarity and the desire to improve the JOURNALISTS' MEET Among the issues sanitation status of the village have resulted in total ON WATER AND debated were raising public sanitation, and the village has been declared open SANITATION ISSUES awareness on issues defecation-free. The experience of Borban could IN SOUTH ASIA related to water, sanitation inspire other communities to achieve the objective Environmental journalists and hygiene; providing of total sanitation. from South Asia came community toilets; water Looking beyond the region, we examine the model together at a workshop on use in agriculture; and of private sector financing of rural water systems in Vietnam and Cambodia where the rural water supply Water and Sanitation private sector participation market is successfully served by small enterprises that for the Poor in Hyderabad, in delivering sanitation either sell water or install water source technologies. from June 30-July 2, 2003. and water services Funds are leveraged from a fee-paying consumer base, The workshop was to the poor. which frees public finances for investment in other organized by the Water A field visit was sectors. As the private sector does not have the skill Supply and Sanitation organized to a watershed or finances to provide social marketing or health Collaborative Council, development project in promotion to the consumers, this input may be provided Geneva, the Forum Kothapally, a model village by the public sector, which in turn will create an increased demand for clean water and improved of Environmental that has been selected by sanitation facilities. Journalists of India and the Asian Development Grassroots, a Kumaon-based NGO, has demonstrated the Infrastructure Bank for replication in the feasibility of an appropriate technology option to Development China, Vietnam, Thailand, meet the drinking water supply needs in hilly areas by Finance Company Ltd. and India. promoting the construction of infiltration wells. These wells are easy to construct and maintain. Over the last few years, this technology option has been installed in A newsletter jointly produced by: nearly 200 hamlets/villages in seven districts of Rajiv Gandhi National Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. Drinking Water Mission Shri Kanshiram Rana, Honorable Union Minister for Government of India Rural Development, Government of India, shares his RGNDWM Jalvaani Jal means water and vaani, voice. views on critical issues in the sector, including the Earlier issues of Jalvaani are available at www.wsp.org Government's strategy for scaling up the reform process, capacity-building at the local level, and the Jalvaani is a forum for the WSP-SA, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003 focus areas for improving sanitation. exchange of ideas and Tel: 2469 0488-9; Fax: 2462 8250; experiences on rural water e-mail: wspsa@worldbank.org As always, we welcome suggestions on future and sanitation issues. RGNDWM, Block 11, 6th Floor, CGO, New Delhi 110 003 issues of Jalvaani. We welcome your Tel: 2436 1656, 1950 & 2106; Fax: 2436 4113/4427; contributions on initiatives e-mail: jstm@water.in.nic.in; ddarwsp@water.in.nic.in in this sector. Please send This newsletter aims at communicating key themes short write-ups of and messages on water and sanitation to different Rakesh Behari approximately 300 words stakeholders in India. It is supported by the UK Joint Secretary and Mission Director to these addresses: Department for International Development (DFID). Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission Government of India COMMUNITY INITIATIVE Involving the community in project monitoring and evaluation Piloting an innovative approach in Kerala I In Kasargod, north Kerala, household connection, etc) beneficiaries of sector reform are is recorded on the map in actively involved in the monitoring different colors. and evaluation of water supply schemes using tools designed by 4. Monitoring chart on O&M: the beneficiaries themselves. The Three indicators have been community has been empowered identified to monitor the to assess the progress of schemes participation/level of satisfaction of using participatory tools that are individual beneficiaries in the O&M simple, logical and easy to use. of schemes: adequate supply of To pilot the approach, workshops good quality water, timely payment were organized at the district and of O&M charges, and participation the beneficiary group level. A of beneficiaries in monthly four-day workshop was conducted meetings. Household responses by PLA Network, a Kerala-based to each indicator are marked every NGO, for members of pilot gram month on the monitoring chart panchayats, beneficiary groups using symbols. and other stakeholders to These charts are placed develop innovative assessment where people regularly meet, indicators by collectively revisiting such as the gram panchayat office, the objectives of the sector WSP-SA so that every community member A woman actively participates in reform project and analyzing can assess the progress of a training session. ongoing activities. the schemes. Four aspects of the project are These creative tools have 1. Time-line of the history and now being monitored in Kasargod: helped users in Kasargod to activities of beneficiary groups: completion of activities; beneficiary effectively monitor the progress of Every month beneficiaries record contribution to the capital cost of schemes through a transparent the progress of project activities schemes; progress of construction; and participative process. This using a time-line, from group and O&M of the schemes. Some of process has created a sense of formation to commissioning the tools being used are: ownership of the project within of the scheme. the community. Women and the elderly, in particular, find 2. Bar chart for the contribution satisfaction in recording their of beneficiaries: Beneficiaries contribution on the charts, mark their contribution to which has fostered a sense of the capital cost of the scheme on a achievement even though some of bar chart. Installment payments are them may be illiterate. These tools recorded in different colors. The chart are viewed as `meters' of clearly identifies the households with community participation. Given outstanding payments and the the success of the approach, it amounts to be realized. has been decided to scale up participatory monitoring and 3. Mapping the progress of evaluation to all the beneficiary construction: The area and groups in Kasargod. activities covered by the scheme are mapped. Progress (construction For details, contact: of pump house and overhead tank, WSP-SA Secretary, Water Resources Department A workshop in session. laying the main and distribution line, Govt of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 006 4 STATES "Welcome to Borban ­ A `Hagandari Mukt' Village" Achieving total sanitation through community motivation T Today, as one enters the village of Borban, in the dusty mountainous region of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, a board at the entrance to the village proudly welcomes visitors to their `Hagandari Mukt Gaon' ­ or open defecation-free village. Till about six months ago, Borban was like any other of the numerous villages dotting the landscape of this drought-prone district. As in most villages, the sanitation and hygiene conditions were far from satisfactory and open defecation in the village WSP-SA Achieving total sanitation has given the community a sense of pride. surroundings was the norm. However, the picture is now very different as all the villagers are was stressed that even one person harvest season. In some cases, if using toilets that have been defecating in the open could affect the household was unable to meet constructed in each household. As the health of the entire community. the full cost of the toilet, The village resolved to meet a result, the village is kept neat and they were subsidized by the the challenge of ending open better-off households. clean and a sense of achievement defecation in their village and it What were the reasons for the and confidence has been instilled was decided that each household phenomenal success of the in the community. would construct a toilet for their sanitation initiative in Borban? This transformation began with use. The district administration The lack of any prescriptive the village deciding to participate in assisted the community by technologies, apart from the the Sant Gadge Baba Sanitation exposing them to low-cost minimum safety standards to be Campaign, an inter-village technology toilets so that they followed, led to different types of competition of the Government could construct toilets according to toilets being constructed of varying of Maharashtra, which rewards their capacity to pay. However, costs. The collective action of the villages that are judged the finances proved to be a stumbling villagers to make Borban an open cleanest with cash prizes. block ­ as the crop was yet to be defecation-free village has been Members of the village actively harvested, the villagers had limited crucial for transformation. In fact took part in the competition and funds and were unable to buy the the village now imposes a fine on Borban was ranked second at the material required. those defecating in the open. district level. However, the practice The Sarpanch, who had Based on the Borban experience, of open defecation (one of the resources generated from his community solidarity and the criteria for assessment) had onion trade, agreed to stand desire to improve the sanitation resulted in the village losing guarantee for persons wanting to status of the village could become valuable points. access the material on credit from a model for total sanitation for A meeting at the block level shops in the vicinity. With this the entire district. addressed by the CEO of the assistance toilets were Zilla Parishad and attended by the constructed, and within a period of For further information, contact: Chief Executive Officer Sarpanch of the village, brought a few months the entire village Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad home the need for a total ban on was made open defecation-free. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra open defecation in the village and it Shopkeepers were paid after the Tel: 0241-2355219 5 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Private sector financing of rural water supply systems in Cambodia and Vietnam A A major challenge in scaling up structure and ability to provide private sector is not socially-driven rural water supply (RWS) service cheaper, more localized services but profit-oriented. Small delivery in developing countries is than government suppliers, the enterprises do not have the financial constraint. The experience private sector can provide a viable finances or the skill to provide of Vietnam and Cambodia provides alternative to public investment. social marketing or health instructive examples from the field Case studies of private sector promotion to their consumers. where the private sector has financing in Cambodia and Vietnam Such software will have to be provided up to 100 percent of the reveal that the most critical provided/funded by the public investment of the cost of ingredient for successful private sector, which will help promote infrastructure to effectively fill the sector participation in the RWS improved health and hygiene financial gap. It is estimated that sector is government support. behavior and in turn result in an private and/or user investment in Regulation is also recommended increased demand for clean the sector far exceeds public but an effective balance should be water and improved sanitation investment, allowing public maintained between protecting facilities. The government can resources to be directed to areas the user/investment and over- fuel demand, and in parallel, support the private sector where the private sector may not regulation, which may inhibit providers with technical have comparative advantages. profitability. Pricing controls backstopping to meet the The RWS market in Vietnam and need to be decentralized to attract demand as it emerges. Cambodia is served by a growing investors to the sector, particularly private sector made up of in the more challenging markets thousands of micro enterprises that where there are higher costs of A detailed report is available at: Water and Sanitation fall into two categories: technology doing business. However, it is Program-East Asia and the Pacific supply enterprises and water important to keep in mind that the wspeap@worldbank.org supply enterprises. Technology supply enterprises are primarily production/supply chains that make, distribute, sell and install water access equipment, storage and purification technologies that enable purchasers to access water. Water supply enterprises sell water, and range from informal enterprises that collect and transport water and sell it door-to-door to piped water schemes that recover costs based on installed water readings. The nature and size of the private sector intervention and the services it provides are tailored to local conditions, including water resource availability, population density, consumer income, user need and preference, and extent of regulation. This strategy has helped to cater to TER the diverse and growing volume of SAL water needs and user preferences. DAN With its customer-oriented Solutions for rural water supply are based on local conditions. 6 TECHNOLOGY Infiltration wells in the hills An appropriate technology option for community-managed drinking water systems M Most rural areas in the central and are used to form a STANDARD INFILTRATION WELL western Himalayas suffer an acute column around the WITH INDIA MARK II HANDPUMP shortage of drinking water. The casting pipe, which is traditional systems of harvesting inserted through a drinking water from shallow hole in the cap sub-surface capillaries into section. Sand INDIA MARK II HANDPUMP naulas/bauris are unable to meet backfilling continues till the needs of the ever-growing the cap is covered to a PLATFORM population. Moreover, the depth of 30 cm, after DRAIN environmental degradation of which the excavated critical catchment areas has material is used. affected the sustainability COMPACTED A block column is BACK FILTER of primary water sources built to reach the COLUMN of communities. desired elevation at CASING PIPE To tackle this problem, the which the feet of the government has been investing handpump will be large funds for the creation set. A platform is of public corporations, which are constructed, usually SAND FILTER responsible for planning, with the pump at the ROUND implementing, operating and center. The pump RISE 2 BLOCKS SEEPAGE maintaining piped water supply INFILTRATION discharge faces WELL systems in remote villages. These downhill so that it PISTONAND EXCAVATION water supply schemes are mainly does not seep back CYLINDER based on secondary or tertiary into the infiltration water sources, which are not within well. The wells are the jurisdiction of the concerned capped and fitted with a albeit with some initial training. villages. As a result, appraisals handpump, which prevents User groups have the option to reveal that for a variety of reasons, pollution. The construction of recover a small fee each month the water crisis in the area is waterseal toilets is encouraged to from each household to pay for far from resolved. Grassroots, a break the cycle of the spread of the operation and maintenance of Kumaon-based NGO, has been waterborne disease. Since these decentralized water supply demonstrating the feasibility of an infiltration wells are based systems. Over the last few years, appropriate technology option in the on primary water resources, this appropriate technology option drinking water sector through the user groups are motivated to has spread to nearly 200 hamlets/ construction of infiltration wells. protect and conserve the villages in seven districts in Infiltration well technology is environment of the immediate Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. merely an extension of the catchment area, providing In order to enable the spread of traditional system; instead of sustainability to the source. this technology, Grassroots is naulas/bauris which are only organizing artisans guilds in A major advantage of these 3-6 feet deep, infiltration wells both these states. are located about 25 feet below infiltration wells is that the ground level. This allows additional drudgery of women collecting For further details, contact: quantities of water to be harvested. water from distant sources is Anita Paul, Community Coordinator Curved concrete well blocks made considerably reduced. Pan Himalayan Grassroots with a simple well block mould are Infiltration wells are easy to Development Foundation laid at the base of the well to form a construct, and the operation and Post Bag # 3, Ranikhet 263 645 Almora District, Uttaranchal circle. The annular ring is backfired maintenance of handpumps/ Telefax: 05966-221516, with clean sand and the cap submersible pumps are within the 222298, 221654 sections laid. Cast column blocks capacities of local communities, email: apaul@grassrootsindia.com 7 ISSN 1564-6823 INTERVIEW Reforms in the rural drinking Reform requires building water supply and sanitation capacity on the ground. What sector have moved from a are the steps that have been sector-based approach to taken in this regard to sustain Swajaldhara and now these initiatives? the introduction of the Local level panchayati raj innovative Memorandums institutions (PRIs) have a major role to play in the implementation of of Understanding (MoUs). Swajaldhara. This requires a major What motivated the reform initiative by both the state program originally and how governments and the GOI for would you describe the building their capacity and to equip changes in its agenda? them to meet the challenges in The Government of India (GOI) the rural drinking water supply and sanitation sector. The GOI is Shri Kanshiram Rana introduced the reform initiative in the rural drinking water supply proposing to assist the states in Honorable Union Minister sector through the sector reform this regard by setting up a for Rural Development, pilot projects in 1999. The key Communication and Capacity Government of India principles of the reforms are Development Unit (CCDU) that they should be demand at the state level. A similar responsive and community-led, set-up is proposed at the with 10 percent capital cost sharing district level. and 100 percent contribution for operation and maintenance What in your view are Our" (O&M) of the scheme. the major focus areas for Communities should be allowed increasing sanitation coverage the freedom to fix and levy priority is in the country? user charges. It is a matter of great concern The objective was to lay the that the coverage of sanitation in to increase foundation for a sustainable rural the country is only up to 28 water supply system where the percent. Our priority is to increase level of satisfaction of the users sanitation coverage by creating awareness of would increase and the investment the need for sanitation and made in the sector since promoting good hygiene behavior. coverage Independence would become For this purpose, my Ministry is sustainable through the introduction currently implementing the Total by creating of sound O&M practices. Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in 350 Based on the experience of districts in the country, which will 67 pilot projects in 26 states, be extended to the entire country awareness and it was decided to extend the within a period of two years. benefits of the reforms to cover In addition, we would like to promoting increase the involvement of PRIs the entire country. Accordingly, by giving incentives to PRIs that the reform initiative has been " are able to eliminate the practice scaled up to cover the entire good hygiene of open defecation and effectively country with the launch of promote sanitation. For this Swajaldhara in December 2002. behavior purpose, we have instituted the The comprehensive guidelines on Nirmal Gram Puraskar. We Swajaldhara, issued in June 2003, would also like to use the energy seek to provide further impetus to and enthusiasm of the over the reform initiative by means of a 1.5 million self-help groups MoU to be signed by the state in the country to promote governments and the GOI. sanitation coverage. Editor: Deepika Ganju · Created by Write Media · Printed at Thomson Press