Memorandum submitted by Tom Grieve
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
1. I am a recent graduate in MSc Aquatic
Resources Management from Kings College London. Between November
2005 and May 2006 I worked as a water quality specialist (voluntary)
for an Indian NGO involved in the World Bank subsidised Jalanidhi
Project in Kerala, India. This role involved public health education,
construction of low-cost disinfection equipment, development of
water quality monitoring systems and the training of operators.
SUMMARY OF
MAIN POINTS
2. The primary source of drinking water
in Kerala is the private, hand-dug, open well of which there are
250 per km2. The majority of these wells are contaminated with
faecal microorganisms and so pose a risk to human health. Water
quality is not however perceived as a risk to health by the population
if it is aesthetically pleasing. In water scarce areas during
the dry season there is not enough water to perform essential
hygiene activities to break the faecal-oral route of infection.
3. The Jalanidhi Project is a World Bank
funded initiative to develop small scale subsidised piped water
supplies in the water scarce areas of Kerala. It is a contribution
based project whereby 75% of the funding comes from the World
Bank, 15% from the community and 10% from the local authority.
4. Strengths of Jalanidhi:
— Provision of consistent subsidised
water supply to individual household tap-stands.
— Involvement of communities in
the development, operation and maintenance of supply systems.
5. Failings of Jalanidhi:
— The participants (developers,
operators and consumers) all failed to recognise the significance
of water quality in terms of its human health implications. As
a consequence source protection, disinfection and hygiene promotion
were critically undervalued.
— Governance of each scheme was
predominantly in male hands while the dominant water handler group
was female.
— Official procedures and functions
often inhibited the efficiency of the project.
— Where the poorest in the community
failed to pay their monthly contribution to the scheme their household
connection was cut. These people were also often the most vulnerable
in terms of water borne disease.
— A single, part-time, low paid
(Rs 1000) operator is responsible for all aspects of the system
(operating and maintaining pumps, disinfection, opening supply,
monitoring water quality etc) so the consistency of a high quality
water supply is questionable.
6. Recommendations:
— In light of the above I would
recommend that funding should be used to strengthen centralised,
existing public utilities and ensure they work towards 100% coverage
for clean water supply.
— Where public water providers
are unable to meet the challenge local schemes should be tied
into an accountability structure to ensure water supplied is consistent
in quality and quantity.
— Source protection, gender issues,
safe sanitation provision (eg twin pit latrines), disinfection
and hygiene promotion all need to be stipulated as conditions
for funding.
JALANIDHI RELATED
WEB-SITES
World Bank summary:
http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20968412~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:295584,00.html
Hindu Article: http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/23/stories/2004062308890400.htm
Gender issues: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/Publications/Country%20Notes/CN4.1%20India.htm
October 2006
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