Rainwater for Humanity

Vital Stats

Christina T

Providence, RI

  • people helped150
  • People Doing It 40

The Problem

The State of Kerala has the second highest population density among all states in India. Kuttanad is a region located in the coastal low-land of Kerala. Despite progress in human development, Kerala faces an increasing drinkable water scarcity due to pollution. At present, more than 80% of the Kuttanad population uses canals for daily water requirements. The canal water is highly contaminated with fecal matter and agricultural run-off, causing over 20,000 cases of diarrhea a year and frequent water-induced illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and intestinal worms. Meanwhile, public taps are irregular and unreliable, often supplying water for only one hour a week. When the pipes have water, officials at the Kuttanad Water Supply Scheme call and inform the village leaders. The village leaders then pass the message to various families, who rush to the taps and fill their pots until the taps run dry again. As women and children are responsible for collecting water for household consumption, the insecure system imposes a disproportionately large social and health burden on them. Due to poor road conditions, some women have reported spending more than 4 hours every day walking long distances to fetch water, time that could be spent on childcare, generating income, education, or leisure. Taxed physically, economically, and medically by the infrequent and unclean water supply, women and children in the poorest households located in inaccessible regions suffer the most.

Plan of Action

Phase 1 (Dec ‘08 - Jan ‘09) (Complete) - Benchmark technical and executive aspects, visit NGOs - Involve key stakeholders: women’s self-help group, local government, university Phase 2 Ongoing Validation (Jan ‘09 - April ‘09) - Survey household water consumption patterns - Education: set up Kerala-based local committee - Re-engineering of the rainwater harvesting structures Phase 3 Pilot model (April ‘09 - Aug ‘09) - Provide social skills workshops and hands-on construction training to local women - Construct pilot rainwater harvesting tanks on community and household scale - Monitor and test water quality and community maintenance - Set up climate station in the village Phase 4 Scale up (after Aug ‘09) - Revise and promote rainwater harvesting to the entire region By the end of August 2009, 5 pilot rainwater harvesting structures will be constructed in the Achinakom village in Kuttanad. Using existing rooftops and locally available materials, we will construct systems of gutters and storage reservoirs, each of which will provide enough water for an entire household. We will set up a training program to help 10 women self-help group members build and maintain these structures. The pilot model will initiate a self-sustaining process whereby women will increase household time and income while reducing epidemic outbreaks and associated medical costs. Rainwater for Humanity is an entry point to create a sense of self-reliance and environmental health awareness in the community.
Go
Environment
Physical and Mental Health
Homelessness and Poverty

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