Abstracts
Panel: Household Water Treatment Systems and Safe Water Storage for Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water in South Asia
“Partnership for Safe Water” initiative for the promotion of Household Water Treatment (HWT) options in Nepal
Padmaja Shrestha*
Bhushan Tuladhar**
Biju Dangol***
Roshan Raj Shrestha****
Bipin Dangol*****
In Nepal, safe water has been cited as one of the most serious public health issues. UNICEF estimates that about 13,000 children under five years of age die each year in Nepal due to diarrheal disease, mainly caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. According to WHO, drinking safe water can reduce diarrhea incidence by 39 percent. However, in Nepal, the use of Household Water Treatment (HWT) options remains only 12 percent. With these facts in mind, the Government of Nepal has taken an initiative to promote HWT options such as Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), chlorination, filtration (CS filter, bio-sand filter) and boiling, to reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases.
To contribute to this effort, ENPHO in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, UN-HABITAT, Coca-Cola Company and local stakeholders has become part of an initiative known as the ‘Partnership for Safe Water’ since November 2007- October 2009. The objectives of this initiative are to create awareness on safe water, hygiene and sanitation practices; promote the use of WHO approved HWT options; capacitate local producers and entrepreneurs; produce and distribute Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. The strategy of the campaign is to capitalize on the comparative advantages of the private and public sectors, form partnership with stakeholders, create integration with on-going similar programmers and to provide training to different concerned stakeholders such as the local authority, health workers, women and youth group, journalists, and local producers/entrepreneurs. To this end, various IEC materials have been produced and distributed, messages on safe drinking water in the local FM and television have been broadcast and articles have been published in the local and national newspaper. In order to ensure sustainability and an effective monitoring mechanism, local partners are being engaged for follow-up activities to ensure the use of HWT options. Similarly, the producers and software activities have made the hardware component such as HWT options available by local government and community-based organizations. The local Coca-Cola Company played a major role in utilizing its national network and marketing expertise to raise awareness and generate the demand for HWT options.
This campaign has considerably helped in raising people’s awareness on the importance of safe drinking water and hygiene practice, and the majority of the people have also started using HWT options of their choice in the correct ways. It is anticipated that this initiative will help in reducing waterborne diseases in the project areas.
 *Ms Padmaja Shreshtha is a Senior Programme Manager, involved in the promotion of household water treatment options since 2006. At present, she is coordinating the partnership program in the urban areas of Nepal.
 **Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar is an Environmental Engineer and the Executive Director of ENPHO since 2005. This project is implemented under his guidance and supervision.
 ***Ms. Biju Dangol has completed her masters degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development and recently she is working at Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) as a Program Officer in Water and Sanitation Program. She is mainly involved in the research, promotion and implementation activities related to water, health and sanitation at community and school level.
****Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha is a Chief Technical Advisor for South East Asia at UN HABITAT water for Asian Cities Programme. This project is implemented under his technical guidance and supervision.
 *****Mr. Bipin Dangol is an Environmental Engineer and consultant of UN HABITAT. Right now he is coordinating this project through UN HABITAT.
SONO Filter: Household technology for arsenic reduction from ground water in Nepal
Sushil Tuladhar*
Linda Smith**
Safe water is an emerging issue in Nepal. Groundwater is a significant source for drinking water in Nepal. Out of the total population, 47% live in the 20 Terai districts where about 90% population use groundwater for drinking and other purposes. At present arsenic contamination is one of the major water quality issues in most of the Terai districts of Nepal. The first evidence of arsenic contamination in groundwater in Nepal was reported in 1999 by the Department of Water Supply & Sewerage (DWSS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This discovery initiated the Nepal UNICEF Arsenic Blanket Testing program in 20 districts of Terai. About 1.5 million tube wells have been already tested so far. To address the problem, many development organizations and government agencies started using household filters like the Arsenic Biosand Filter (ABF), three kolshi, and two Gagri. The various technologies have been used in Nepal with varying success. In 2007, Filters for Families (FFF) sought an alternative arsenic removal technology system from Bangladesh called “SONO Filter”.
The filter was invented by two brothers, Dr. A. K. M. Munir (Medical Doctor) and Dr. Abul Hussam (Chemistry Professor in USA). It was developed after 10 years of intensive research on the Composite Iron Matrix by Dr. Munir and Dr. Hussam. The SONO Filter is completely “Green” and no toxic materials are produced by the removal system. Several aspects of the filter are very appealing: the filter and material longevity is more than 11 years; arsenic, lead, pathogens, and 23 other metals below the WHO guideline for drinking water. Filter maintenance cost is very low and therefore the filter is affordable for those who live in the village.
FFF started a Nepal SONO pilot project in June 2008 and it was completed in January 2009. FFF had distributed 950 filters in one of the highly affected districts called Nawalparasi District. The district has not only the highest number of tube wells (>7000) with arsenic contaminated water in it, but tube well arsenic concentrations are the highest (1010 ppb) in Nepal in Nawalparasi.
The first round of testing on 200 filters showed that arsenic is reduced significantly in 99% of the filters cases to below the WHO guideline. FFF also conducted monthly testing on some of the filters for more than a year. The filter reduces high arsenic concentration from ground water to < 10 ppb. One of the most remarkable changes in these communities after using the filter for a short time was that they had more energy. Villagers also commented on how good the water tasted, how good food that was cooked in the water tasted, and how easy it was to use. After drinking the SONO filter water, they found a noticeable change in their body within a week. Their headaches were gone, they had no digestion problems, and as mentioned earlier they had more energy. FFF is also planning to install more filters in other arsenic affected areas.
 *Mr. Sushil Tuladhar has worked in the sector of arsenic mitigation and research in Nepal for couple of years. He has also worked as a SONO Project Coordinator in supervising and monitoring the filter through the coordination with the different local and national stakeholders.
**Ms Linda Smith is associated with the Filters for Families (FFF) ‘Arsenic Mitigation and Research in Nepal’.
Assessing the sustainable access to safe drinking water in Sindh
F. H. Mughal*
This paper is based on the review of water treatment facilities in Sindh. The review entailed site visits to a number of towns of Sindh (Tando Adam, Hala, Nawabshah, Badin, Shaheed Fazil Rahu, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Latifabad, Thatta, Tando Muhammad Khan, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad). The objective of the study was to critically evaluate the water treatment systems, currently available, in the towns visited. The evaluation is based on visits to the waterworks along with the concerned Taluka Officer (Infrastructure) [TO (I)] – the person responsible for maintaining waterworks - and, discussions with the TMA (taluka municipal administration) officials. In addition, a questionnaire was developed, which was designed to evaluate the technical competence of towns’ TOs (I) and, assess the quality of water. The questionnaire was sent to all TOs (I) and, their response was received well before the site visits.
While there is a large amount of water in Sindh, the water treatment systems do not provide benefits to the people, as they are technically deficient and largely ineffective. Water pollution isis caused by poorly designed sanitation facilities. In addition deficient water treatment systems contribute to health problems, with large-scale population suffering from water-borne diseases.
This study led to a number of important findings. Firstly it was found that the TO was technically unequipped and therefore incompetent. Other findings included the absence of environmental health and hygiene aspects; lack of provision of adequate operation and maintenance costs; lack of initiative on the part of the TOs (I) to acquire adequate technical knowledge; and the absence of community participation. A recent Asian Development Bank initiative, which aims to develop water supply facilities in some secondary cities of Sindh, tends to support the findings of the study. A strategic framework highlighting a realistic roadmap for the future is suggested, so that water treatment facilities are appropriately scaled-up. If these criteria are met, people will benefit from the results and, at the same time, the Millennium Development Goals can be met.
*F. H. Mughal received his B.E. (Civil) from University of Sindh, Jamshoro in 1969 and, Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering, from Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, in 1975. He worked for five years as Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Government of Sindh, Karachi and, for one year as Water and Sanitation Specialist, in the Asian Development Bank-funded Sindh Devolved Social Services Program. Currently, he is working as Controller, Karachi Building Control Authority, Department of Local Government, Government of Sindh, Karachi.
The provision of clean drinking water to villagers of Bundelkhand region of India
Manoj Kumar*
Udit Mathur**
Mayuk Hajra***
Objectives
The overall goal is to work towards improving the health of those susceptible to danger, through the reduction of waterborne diseases and child mortality through the provision of safe drinking water and improved hygiene practices in the target villages. The aim is to increase the practice of point-of-use (p-o-u) water treatment and improved hygiene of half a million people in bundelkhand of India and to reduce waterborne diseases and child mortality in the project areas by at least 20 per cent in three years. The main objectives are:
- The promotion and dissemination of p-o-u water treatment in a enterprise route and improved hygiene practices in five districts of the Bundelkand area of India in order to achieve a behavioural change in hygiene and HWTS
- Developing training and communication material for point of use treatment promotion and health education at the different levels (developed and field-tested)
- To create public awareness and initiate large-scale campaigns to enhance awareness and acceptance of HWTS technologies and hygiene practices
Major expected findings
- Established household water treatment and improved hygiene practices of half a million people in Bundelkhand region of India
- Increased public awareness on water related health topics, point-of-use water treatment and hygiene practices and endorsement by the relevant Government Agencies
In the Bundelkhand region, 70% of the drinking water needs of the household (including livestock) are met by ground water sources. These sources are often found to be contaminated with bacteria, turbidity and nitrates leading to an adverse impact on health with frequent recurrence of diarrhea and dysentery among children and adults. Water quality surveys conducted by Development Alternatives in the rural areas of the region had indicated that 65-70% of the samples collected were contaminated with chloroform bacteria and nitrate that makes it unsafe and hence unfit for drinking purposes. The responsibility of ensuring the access of safe drinking water to the people lies with the government. However, due to improper maintenance and lack of ownership by the community over water resources, most drinking water facilities become non functional especially during periods of water stress. This leads to a situation whereby households have to travel long distances to fetch safe drinking water, incur health costs and lose opportunities to work for a livelihood on account of the frequent occurrence of diseases.
In order to address the problems identified above, Development Alternatives has conceived and set up a model in the 10 identified villages on clean drinking water issues by combining sound technology with sustainable service delivery undertaken through self supporting enterprises that are accountable and that involve local actors.
The uniqueness of the model is based on service delivery in a business like approach by setting up 10 self supporting enterprises for assured supply of safe drinking water through locally-made Jal-TARA bio-sand Filters, involving primarily local women self-help groups. The breakthrough idea is, harnessing the entrepreneurial skills of local artisans (masons, plumbers etc) to facilitate setting up of these water delivery enterprises. The technology used for purification is a slow sand filtration with innovative design features to provide 20 litres/hr of safe drinking water and attains 99.9% pathogen removal efficiency.
The model is currently providing more than 10,000 people with access to safe drinking water and possesses the potential to scale up its activities in the targeted and adjoining problem areas in order to reach more than 200,000 end users in the next three to four years. A Revolving Fund has been created to overcome the barrier of lack of initial capital; this will also help in scaling up operations.
 * Mr. M. Manoj Kumar is Program Manager, Water Programme, Development Alternatives, New Delhi
 ** Mr. Udit Mathur is an economist and an expert on climate change. He has been extensively involved in assessing the viability of potential rural enterprises, identifying entrepreneurs, getting them access to finance for setting up the micro-enterprises and replication of these enterprises for livelihood generation on a large scale.
 *** Mr. Mayuk Hajra is a zoologist by qualification and capacity building expert by profession. He is involved in the nationwide community environment action based CLEAN-India Programme.
Household treatment systems and safe storage for sustainable access to safe drinking water in remote rural area: Use of Nadi water filters – a case study
Mahmood A. Khwaja*
A. Khurshid Bhatti **
Millennium Development Goal 7 (MDG 7), Target 10, calls for reducing by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. Rivers are the main source of drinking water for most of South Asia. However, the quality of water of the rivers has been consistently deteriorating due to natural and man induced activities such as urban and agricultural runoffs, sewage treatment, saline intrusion, industrial effluents and others. Adequate treatment facilities are by and large, lacking for cleaning river water prior to its distribution among residents of towns in South Asia, including Pakistan.
Unclean water, contaminated chemically or microbiologically, is a health hazard.
Many deaths (mostly of children under the ages of five) are caused annually by water-borne diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid fever, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Hepatitis A and other diarrhoeal diseases. (groups.google.com/group/cai-asia/.../78af16205644f69e)
Household-level interventions for water treatment must be given priority as this will contribute to the safety component, which in turn is expected to significantly contribute to achieving the MDGs. In the absence of control measures to prevent water pollution at source prior to distribution among town residents, adequate accessible methods for household water treatment/treatment at point of use (POU) and safe storage (HWTS), combined with hygiene promotion could prevent the population (without access to safe drinking water) from illness and death. Household water treatment systems (HWTS) include water boiling, disinfections by chlorine, solar water disinfections, UV lamps, chemical flocculation-disinfections formulation and use of bio-filters.
The easy self-help AHD Nadi dinking water filter, a bio-filter type, is unique in its simple design, assembly and cost. The material required to construct it, keep it functional and maintained are easily accessible in a rural setting. The effectiveness of the Nadi filter unit is very evident from the colour, taste & transparency of the water filtered through it, as well as the laboratory reports of bacteriological examination of the filtered water samples.
The selected project site is around Taluka Jati area of Thatta District about 200 km from Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. There is a shortage of water in this area. The sub-surface water is not only accessible at higher depths but is also totally brackish and unfit for drinking purposes. The project was designed to raise health & hygiene awareness and provide support to the communities in the affected area towards access to safe drinking water, by providing low cost, effective, easy to assemble, maintained & operated, AHD Nadi Water Filters (NWFs), from locally available materials. Through the formation of community based organizations (CBOs) at the village level & training and awareness raising workshops, the project aimed at providing material and training to household representatives of local communities, to assemble, install and operate NWFs at households in order to provide safe drinking water supply to the families of those households.
In a short span of 12 months, 20 village CBOs were constituted, and 20 health and hygiene trainings were held as well as four train the trainers (ToT) workshops. Over 1000 NWF units were installed and are operating in 20 villages of Taluka Jati area. It is estimated that 1000 families and over 15, 000 individuals have become well-informed about water borne diseases and would continue to have access to safe drinking water for their day-to-day needs. A marked decrease has been reported by Nadi water filter users, in the number of their family members, specially infants/children’s visits to doctors/hospital (Bhatti and Khwaja 2009).
AHD Nadi water filter project is a fine example of a “success story,” of people at the grass root level being positively affected but it needs further support for its replication at other remote rural areas and cities as well as thickly populated slums, for providing access to safe drinking water, to the people. This paper will describe and discuss in detail the project objectives, methodology employed, activities carried out and results achieved.
 *Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja is a Senior Advisor Chemicals & Sustainable Industrial Development and Visiting Fellow at SDPI. He holds a Ph.D from La Trobe University of Science and Technology, Melbourne, Australia and an M.Sc. from the University of Peshawar. He has over 60 publications to his credit.
 **A. Khurshid Bhatti received his M. Sc (agronomy) degree from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and worked with Caritas Pakistan and LSRDA, AJK. He is founder member and presently President/CEO of Association for Humanitarian Development (AHD), Hyderabad.
Reference:
“Access to safe drinking water through Nadi Water Filter in Remote Rural Jati Areas (Thatta) Sindh Pakistan,” A. Khurshid Bhatti, AHD, Hyderabad and Mahmood A. Khwaja, SDPI, Islamabad, Pakistan, June, 2009.
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