Two villages in Karnataka were selected to be developed as models for domestic water management. The project ensured integrated domestic water management, including access to piped metered water, sanitation and ensured sustainability at the source. Wastewater management through drains, soak pits and kitchen gardens was done to ensure safe disposal of waste water. EcoSan was established as an option for sanitation tried at certain scale in the project. Conjunctive water use was promoted through rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Depleting groundwater levels in the Gaya district were putting high stress on the agriculture-dependent communities of the region. Through the use of rainwater harvesting technologies, over the two phases of the project, Arghyam supported DISHA in reducing the vulnerability of these communities to droughts. The burden on women who previously travelled long distances to fetch water was reduced significantly by providing them easy access to water. Schools also became self-sufficient with access to harvested rainwater.

In 2009, Vishaka Jilla Nava Nirmana Samiti (VJNNS) took up an initiative in six villages inhabited by landless people. These villages have poor or no access to basic infrastructure facilities like electricity and the government’s water supply systems have failed to work because of improper site selection, poor ground water quality (rich in iron content), poor quality of construction and equipment used.

This project was an initiative conceived by students from the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka, who started a group called Sparsh in collaboration with Gajani Foundation. The project sought to ensure water security in a coastal village with high saline intrusion. Arghyam‘s role in this project partnership was to promote community rainwater harvesting so as to provide potable water to the people.

Outputs

1. Around 5 community rainwater harvesting structures were built.
2. Over Rs. 5 lakh was leveraged from multiple sources

The Supreme Court ordered that across states, all schools must be provided with toilets and drinking water facilities as part of students’ Right to Education. Arghyam considers sustainable access to safe drinking water an important issue and has promoted it across Karnataka.

This has been done through several methods: