Clean Water Supply

Clean water is a basic need that many people in Nepal have to do without. In some villages, women walk for an hour to get to the water source which is often contaminated (for example rivers, open natural wells, and springs). Contamination includes human faeces that carry parasites and diseases. This lack of access to clean water leads to waste of time and increase in physical labour for women; disease and parasite infection that specially impact the health of children, causing death, loss in quality of life, and expenses; and inability to maintain proper hygiene.

The problem is compounded by the fact that water sources are often located in deep valleys while villages are located either on hill flanks or on mountain ridges. This means that local people cannot, on their own, take water up to the village without electricity-run water distribution systems. Therefore, Shanti Griha works with such communities and helps them purchase storage tanks at the water source and at the village, installs solar panels to generate electricity and pumps to pull water up to the village level, and helps place distribution systems that serve key locations in the village. A single Shanti Griha clean water supply project has been able to service up to seven villages at the same time bringing relief to as many as thirteen hundred rural people.

In order to assure that the projects are well cared for and maintained, local people contribute labor and know-how and they also raise a little bit of money from every household so that the water supply system can be maintained and kept operational. Training is given to villagers so that they can keep their wells, pumps, and distribution systems clean, free of disease causing conditions, and are able to unclog the system of silt, leaves, etc. without damaging sensitive equipment. In 2005, Shanti Griha was able to implement seven projects, most of them in the upper hills. Because of the increase in the population the water supply, collection, and distribution systems were upgraded in Shikharbasti, an area where the flood and landslide victims of Chitwan and Makwanpur district have made their homes. 370+ people from the village are now getting a regular supply of clean drinking water and many of them have started kitchen gardens to supplement their nutrition.

The solar powered water supply project in Kotgaon is benefiting 700+ people. The Kotgaon water is also being distributed to Amath, Pokharigaun and Chanthan; the people contributed labor and pipes. Taps have been installed throughout the four villages and water is available for 6/7 hours a day. This project has benefited the villagers in the cultivation of different vegetables. A similar project was implemented in Majhkharka. 80 Chepang families are now getting enough water for their daily household chores. The Chepangs, who used to forage wild fruits and hunt animals and birds, have now slowly begun to cultivate vegetables.

In Dhumrikhadi the children were always very late for school as they had to help their mothers, every morning, to fetch water from a faraway source. Now 19 taps supply water throughout the village, each tap has been allocated to five to six households. Now the children, cleaner and fresher, get to school on time. The villagers have started growing green vegetables and other cash crops such as potato, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. The risk of diseases caused by contaminated drinking water has been minimized and the sanitation of the village has improved.

With the support of Richardstraße School and Kinderhilfswerk für die Dritte Welt a water tank was constructed at a primary school in Birendranagar. Shanti Griha also contributed a small amount needed for cement rings, pipes, and a pump. Water is distributed to taps in the school compound and to the toilets. There was a time when the school peon had to run throughout the village searching for drinking water for the children but now the school provides excess water to the villagers staying nearby. The teachers, together with the children, and sometimes the villagers regularly clean the classrooms.

Dhamili was a place where the environment was polluted and the lack of awareness among the people made the situation even worse. The people used to suffer from diseases, due to contaminated water and unsanitary toilet habits, which resulted in untimely deaths. To take control over the situation, Dhamili water supply project was initiated. Despite the initial obstacles from the government security forces and the Maoist, the people from Sano Dhamili, Thulo Dhamili, Simaltar and Jamundar Tole were able to convince both factions and were able to implement the program. 21 taps supplies water to four villages and also to the only primary school in this area. Wire net fences have been setup to protect the water collection tanks. 1440 people in the four villages are now getting clean drinking water everyday and the school can provide clean water to 100 students. The environment in the village is getting better and cleaner. Excess water is being used in farming and kitchen gardening. Slowly the people have started to shower regularly.

In Kurinbhitta and Dandabari 11 taps supply water to 128 people. The villagers have started cultivating vegetables like tomatoes, beans, bitter gourd, etc. in their fields nearby their houses. This program is a continuation of a project started in 2003. Now all villages in Saurathok Village Development Committee have clean drinking water. The other remarkable change is that many of the villagers have built toilets on their own.

Because the water has to be shared and this can lead to conflict, Shanti Griha has helped create better understanding of the system and ways that the village can settle differences amicably.