[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME
(National Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Programme in Doiwala and Sahaspur Blocks of District Dehradun of Uttarakhand)
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
For mankind water remains a basic need. It influences and alters the social, cultural, political and religious heritages of different communities. The need for plentiful supply of water is universally perceived and demanded. However, much importance is not given for the quality of water. Water is derived from different sources and on our planet only 0.1% of water is potable. The water attains its quality based on the source from which it is derived. It may be found as rainwater, surface water or ground water. The water may contain suspended matter, dissolved substances and microorganisms and these parameters decide the quality of any water.
The lack in people’s perception, if any, lies in the quality of water. People are often unaware that water can act as a harbinger of death, can be a cause for so much morbidity and mortality. This is because, for thousands of years people have followed a practice of drinking water that is clear and colourless, has no objectionable odour or taste, and have accepted that as safe water. Germ theory was not known to the people, neither was the fact that harmful chemicals could remain dissolved in water without causing objectionable taste, odour or colour. India has achieved remarkable success in providing safe drinking water to majority of her rural population through rural water supply programme. The nation is committed to provide safe drinking water facilities to all the rural habitations in the country. Today people should be made aware that checking water quality is something more than its appearance or taste, and if possible, they should be provided with the tools by which they could assess the quality of water. This is what community based water quality surveillance is all about.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The primary objectives of the National Drinking Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Programme was to improve the performance and cost effectiveness of the on-going programmes in the field of rural drinking water supply and to ensure the availability of an adequate quantity of drinking water of acceptable quality on a long term basis. The programme included monitoring the quality of water after identification of problems, tackling the same by the application of science and technology to ensure that the water available is of acceptable quality and ensure that the quantity and quality of water is sustainable on a long term basis by proper water management technique and implementations of management information system. The programme also included survey of various kinds of water sources, prevention of pollution of drinking water; and educating the public in conservation of the quantity and quality of water through awareness campaigns, community participation and health education programmes.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT
At Gram Panchayat level training to Panchayat Functionaries, Asha Workers, Aanganwadi Workers on water quality monitoring and surveillance has been provided by the HIFEED staff.
At Block level training the representatives from Health Department, Education Department, Forest Department, Engineers from Jal Nigam, Jal Sansthan and Minor Irrigation Department has been provided training on water quality monitoring and surveillance.
TARGET AREA AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECT
The target area of the project was Doiwala and Sahaspur Blocks in District Dehradun of Uttarakhand. Panchayat functionaries, representatives from Health Department, Education Department, Forest Department, Engineers from Jal Nigam, Jal Sansthan and Minor Irrigation Department was the target groups of the project.
FUNDING AGENCY
The project is funded by Project Management Unit (PMU), Department of Drinking Water, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun & District Project Management Unit (DPMU), Department of Drinking Water, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
COST OF THE PROJECT
The project was sanctioned by PMU during the year 2008. Total cost of the project sanctioned by PMU to organize the training programme was Rs. 3,66,500.00[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”920,921,922,923,924,925,926″][/vc_column][/vc_row]