Contribution of community water projects in preventing water crisis

Abstract

The lack of clean water is a major risk factor for poor health and sanitation, and it has major health impacts on rural communities. Safe drinking water is fundamental to health, survival, growth and development. The study is based on data collection through surveys, interview, focus group discussion, and consultation of medical reports at Ampara RDHS and project reports at Ampara NWSDB, and other relevant authorities. Using the secondary information, the paper demonstrates the status of CKD (Chronic Kidney Diseases) in the recent past in all Grama Niladhari divisions in the study community, and it explores Community Water Supply or Rural Water Supply (RWS) projects implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainages Board (NWSDB) with the support from Government and International Organizations in the CKD affected villages, in order to mitigate water crisis in Dehiyattakandia. This study found that the scarcity of safe drinking water was not an outright factor for endemic of CKD, perhaps, the scarcity of safe drinking water was one of the major factors to determine this health implication among rural communities in Dehiyattakandia. Further, this paper argues that prevalent of CKD has been controlled by eradicating water crisis through community participation mechanism implemented by the NWSDB and other stakeholders in the rural water supply projects in the study community. Thus, the CBOs were highly motivated to maneuver rural water poverty reduction at all levels. Hence, the real factor for this CKD also need to be investigated scientifically. However, this study suggests that the awareness programmes and community participation in the rural water supply projects need to be enriched to ensure the availability of adequate safe drinking water and protect rural communities from severe health hazards.