Implementing community-based decentralized system of safe drinking water supply in India

India is a water-stressed country and by the year 2025, it might fall in the category of water-scarce countries (Ministry of Water Resources, 2004). According to the World Health Organization, almost two-thirds of the global population without access to improved and safe water supply lives in Asia. Of this, about 25% live in India. In Delhi alone, groundwater depletion of more than 10-15 m has taken place in the past ten years and more than 20% of the annual health cases reported arise as a result of bacteriological contamination in drinking water. Water utilities and local water boards focus on increasing the coverage and capacity rather than reliability and sustainability of water supply schemes. Hence, there arises a need to supplement government schemes with reliable community-based decentralized systems of safe drinking water. The objective is to design, implement, and demonstrate an economically viable model of community-based decentralized drinking water supply system that will ensure safe water supply. The community-based decentralized drinking water supply system will be developed and implemented in the peri-urban micro-environment identified based on the socio-economic status of communities. Based on the preliminary survey, it has been identified that societies are not only facing water availability problems but also water quality. The project will ensure implementation of a ''Water Kiosk System'', a stand-alone system that treats and stores water (primary kiosk) and distributes through a network of outlets called secondary kiosks throughout the year. The system eliminates the risk of contamination that usually occurs during piped supply and provides reliable service. The entire concept relies on and builds strong multi-stakeholder partnerships with community at the centre of decision-making. As these systems have to be regularly operated and maintained by the community itself, capacity building becomes essential. The commercialization aspect is ensured through cost-benefit analysis, strong partnerships with government, NGOs, community, and corporates (under corporate social responsibility framework).