“Innovative approaches to improve hygiene behavior and access to water in peri-urban coastal areas”

Abstarct

The project 4WS (Women, Well-being, Work, Waste and Sanitation) was practiced in three pilot

sites and three control sites in India, Bangaladesh and Sri Lanka. It was practiced with the

objectives of (1) cost-effectiveness of innovative and replicable approaches to excreta and solid

waste management in low income peri-urban settlements; (2) to measurably improve sanitation

conditions and practices; (3) to scale up the tested approaches; (4) and to strengthen

interdisciplinary cooperation and implementation skills of the participating research and civic

society institutions. All pilot and control sites were found in coastal zones with high water tables,

saline water and water contamination by arsenic and iron made water supply a priority need in all

three pilot areas. This has created a need for an added component for water issues in the project

intervention whereas there were no such provisions allocated. Thus the project could assist the

research communities only with technology assistance. However due to the strong and effective

hygiene education programme, communities realized the importance of drinking good quality of

water and use a larger quantity of water for personal hygiene which motivated them to construct

the facilities, taking precautionary measures using mainly their own financial resources and a

limited funds from an another programme. Considering overall project resulted; cost effectiveness

on sanitary improvement and solid waste management strategies; measurable improve latrine

ownership, latrine usage, safe defecation, solid waste management, water access, environmental

impact and gender impact.

1.0 Introduction to the research

The need for the action research 4WS derives from the problems faced by municipalities

in densely populated and ecologically fragile coastal areas to improve environmental

conditions by the reduction of soil and water pollution, to cut off health risks to sanitation

and water related diseases (still the second cause of death of children under five in

developing countries) and to stimulate social and economic development. The absence

of sanitation contributes significantly to the poor quality of life and the costs of living of

poor households. The potential to collect recycles and reuse biologically degradable

domestic wastes for reuse in agriculture has hardly been explored. Access to proper

sanitation is low and sanitation programmes focus on containment and dumping and not

recycling. Few peri-urban sanitation programmes use participatory approaches that are

gender and poverty sensitive and create employment for women in solid waste collection

and recycling and the safe disposal of human excreta.

The project 4WS (Women, Well-being, Work, Waste and Sanitation) has concerned the

planning and implementation of action research on alternative strategies of

environmental sanitation and waste management for improved health and socio-

Paper presented for Symposium on November 29, 2006 at PGIA, University of Peradeniyawww.cosi.org.lk

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economic development in peri-urban coastal communities in south Asia. The project

used an experimental design of three pilot communities and three matched control

communities. In the research, five universities and five NGOs from India, Bangladesh,

Sri Lanka, The Netherlands and Finland1 cooperate with local Government in six periurban

coastal settlements.

The main objectives of the action project were:

• To measure the cost- effectiveness of technically, socio-economically and

environmentally innovative and replicable approaches to excreta and solid waste

management in low income peri-Urban settlements in a part of Asia that has

lagged behind in sanitation

• To measurably improve sanitation conditions and practices in six pilot areas

• To scale up the tested approaches through integration of lessons learned in

sanitation policies and implementation programme of local and state

governments

• To strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and implementation skills of the

participating research and civic society instructions through knowledge

exchange, cross-regional training and joint documentation of studies,

interventions and results.

The project used participatory methods to promote the adoption of improved sanitation,

hygiene and water supply facilities on the request of the project communities. The

research compared the cost-effectiveness of existing sanitation programmes and

innovative approaches in the pilot interventions. The project assessed and documented

the existing approaches, conditions and practices in six project areas and then

introduced alternative ways to contain and recycle human excreta and domestic solid

waste for rural-urban horticulture in the three study areas. The matched other three

areas did not get any intervention and served as control.

The project activities were started with the inception workshop and followed the selection

of study (India; Allepuzha, Bangaladesh; Morelgani, Sri Lanka; Karukupane) and control

communities (India; Trivandrum, Bangaladesh; Paikgacha, Sri Lanka; Udappuwa).

In each community, a baseline study was carried out through social surveys using a

semi-structured questionnaire on attitudes, practices and conditions regarding

environmental sanitation, water and hygiene. In Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, all

households were interviewed. In Kerala, household samples covered 25% of the pilot

community and 3.4% of the control community. This followed a post survey at the end of

the project interventions and it was a replication of the base line survey and conducted

November-December 2005 at the end of the project. Comparison of the baseline survey

and post survey results act as the impact assessment of he project interventions.

2.0 Water situation of the pilot and control communities

1 University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh; yola College of Social

Sciences, Kerala; University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; University of Kuopio, Dept. of

Environmental Sciences, Finland; O Forum, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Socio-Economic Units,

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; COSI Foundation for Technical Cooperation, Kandy, Sri Lanka; and

IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Delft, The Netherlands

Paper presented for Symposium on November 29, 2006 at PGIA, University of Peradeniyawww.cosi.org.lk

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In Bangaladesh Morelganj and Paikgacha in south-west Bangladesh are areas of

comparable size and density. Both are located in coastal zones with high water tables,

saline water and water contamination by arsenic and iron. Thumbolly and

Shanghumugham in Kerala, India are environmentally and socio-economically

comparable low-income peri urban settlements. Both areas have a piped water supply

with public stand posts. The water is treated and chlorinated, but residual chlorine is not

monitored. The supply is irregular and many people depend therefore on a combination

of tap and well water. Karukkupane and Udappuwa both are fishing communities on the

west coast of Sri Lanka. Lacking safe drinking water was a major problem. paliya (sand

dune well) is the main water source for drinking purposes. Economically strong people,

buy drinking water from a private sector water truck.

Summary of baseline conditions in the project communities on water supply shows in

table 1.

Table 1 Summery of water supply conditions in project communities

Bangladesh – Pilot community Morelganj Control community Paikgacha

• 53% of households use ponds and shallow

tubewells for drinking water

• 26% think this drinking water is unsafe

• No safe source of drinking water is 100%

• 93% of households use ponds and shallow

tubewells for drinking water

• 22% think this drinking water is unsafe

• No safe source of drinking water is 100%

Kerala – Pilot community Thumbolly, Allepuzha Control community Shanghumugham, Trivandrum

• 90% depend on a combination of tap and well

water

• No safe source of drinking water is 56%

• 70% depend on a combination of tap and well

water

Sri Lanka – Pilot community Karrukkupane Control community Udappuwa

• 71% buy piped water from vendors

• Own well 0.67%

• Purchase from bowser 98.7%

• Neighbors Well 0.67%

3.0 Interventions

3.1 Technology

New technologies and designs were developed in all pilot sites. In Morrelganj, a new

type of rainwater harvesting tank (RWH) was developed. This consisted of five latrine

rings with a cover and piping. This is easy to construct and takes up less space than a

large tank. Its costs are Th 3,500 for 1,000 liter storage. Large tanks are harder to pay

as they ask for a larger up front investment (Th 7,5000 for a reservoir of 3,200 liters). An

innovation contributed by the first householder to install the tank was a pet bottle

inserted in the pipe just before it enters the tank. This makes it possible to see when the

diverted first flush becomes clear and the water can be guided into the tank for storage

and use (Figure 1). In Sri Lanka, sand from the beach was used in the construction of

RWH tanks (Fig 2) which reduced the cost.

Paper presented for Symposium on November 29, 2006 at PGIA, University of Peradeniyawww.cosi.org.lk

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Fig. 1 Innovative RWH tank Bangaladesh Fig. 2 RWH tank Sri Lanka

In Morrelganj ward no. 5, four women masons have been trained by those trained in

Kerala to construct sanitary latrines, rainwater harvesting tanks and composting bins.

Two of them have started their own business of a Village Sanitation Centre.

The project has introduced solar disinfection (SODIS) in the sites in Kerala and Sri

Lanka. Water quality tests have been carried out through cooperation of the national

NGOs with Kuopio University. The water was analyzed for total heterotrophic bacteria,

bacilli, faecal clostridia, mycobacteria and algae, to check on risks caused by a dense

population, too high organic matter contents from vegetation, or contamination from

animals and/or construction materials. The local laboratories have analyzed the water for

faecal coliforms.

A first test of the sources at Karrukupone, Sri Lanka showed zero e-coli in the school

well and rainwater, and 40 e-coli per 100 ml in the traditionally dug sand dune well. The

SODIS sample showed a total of 5000 bacteria before treatment and 4400 afterwards at

a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, 90 before and 500 after at 50o C and zero at a

temperature of 60o C. No e-coli were found. Self-testing with H2S strips in 100

households showed 97% had an E-coli problem. This led to an awareness campaign

with the ward, municipality and the media.

Water quality tests of the Pond Filter in the Bangladesh site have been carried out

regularly. They showed a negligible number of Total Coliforms/Fecal Coliforms.

3.2 Awareness programmes

In all pilot communities the three national NGOs worked with local NGOs. Their staff

mobilized and organized the communities to review their situations and identify, plan and

implement improvements in sanitation and waste management, as well as improved

hygiene practices. In the pilots of Morelganj and Karukapane, also improvements of

water supply were started as this was a burning problem of the population and their first

priority. In Morelganj there was only one Pond Sand Filter, insufficient to meet all water

Paper presented for Symposium on November 29, 2006 at PGIA, University of Peradeniyawww.cosi.org.lk

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needs. In Karukapane, women and girls from families that could not afford to buy water

were patiently sifting sandy water from a sand well outside the village.

In Morrelganj, Project Management and Advisory Committees were set up and a Young

Voluntary Group was formed. The latter was active in promotion work and wrote and

performed a play "Death trap" on sanitation and social problems. The play was staged

during a sanitation fair, at which community members could see the different types of

sanitation hardware available on the market. Thumbolly saw the establishment of an

Programme Management Committee, an Advisory Committee (13 members) and a team

of ten Volunteers.

In Kerala a strong focus was placed on regular meetings were arranged with local

community and administration to improve the water and sanitation situation of the area.

Local press have published several writings on the objectives and activities of the 4 WS

project. Since no public land was available in this area some private property was found

which was turned into a vermicomposting unit. The 4Ws programme in Kerala

specifically facilitated the municipality to start a decentralized community solid waste

management programme in other 5 wards. Booklets on community participation in solid

waste management were prepared and distributed. A committee constituted by

municipality chaired by district collector for planning solid waste management

programme for the municipality authorized SEUF to prepare a leaflet regarding solid

waste management system to be introduced in the municipality.

In the context of Sri Lanka, a strong focus was placed on strengthening self-confidence,

motivation, leadership skills, and implementation skills necessary for the participating

research and knowledge exchange in the community. Community participation was also

clearly reflected in the "Green House" label part of the project. This entailed strong

community participation so that each and every household in the pilot areas would

eventually have a latrine, compost bin, safe drinking water : SODIS or rain water tank,

and bins for the segregation of its household waste (organic and inorganic) A total of

150 households out of 320 have so far received the green label.

4.0 Self attempts by villagers to improve their water situation

In Morrelganj, the 4WS project brought a significant improvement in the local water

conditions. By the time of the post study, 12 households had a RWH tank constructed by

the project masons. Six are shared by two households, so 18 households now have

rainwater as a source. All tanks were constructed with 100% household financing. A new

pond sand filter for communal use was constructed in the ward by the Bangladesh

government. In contrast, the control community continues to have not a single safe water

source (Table 2).

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Table 2 Safe and unsafe water sources in the pilot and control area in Bangladesh

Morrelganj Paikgachha Source in HH Baseline Post study Baseline Post studyNo % No % No % No %

Safe 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.3 STW*

/pump unsafe 0 0 266 62 0 0 97 26

PSF** 0 0 1 0.2 0 0 0 0

RWHS*** 0 0 18 4.2 0 0 0 0

Well 0 0 1 0.2 0 0 0 0

No safe source of

DW 417 100 143 33.3 370 100 275 73.7

Total 417 100 429 99.9 370 100 373 100

*Shallow Tube Well **Pond sand filter ***Rainwater harvesting system

In the pilot community safe use of drinking water grew from 44% before the project to

85% afterwards. Forty one percent of this improvement was due to the rainwater tanks

and PSF which the women masons built after the community people had stressed that

the project should include also water supply. Sources of water for cooking were the

same as for drinking at the start, but at the post study the number of households that

used ponds for cooking water had inc.increased. It is however considered that this is not

a problem when cooking implies the boiling of the food. In the control community

drinking water use remained unsafe.

In Sri Lanka, the main change in drinking water supply are the introduction of RWH

tanks (6 build with cost sharing between users and a disaster mitigation fund) and the

great reduction in the use of the paliya after tests under the project had shown it to be

contaminated. Most people now buy drinking water from a private sector water truck

(Table 3). Water remains a primary need in the pilot as well as the control community.

Table 3 Water sources for drinking in the project and control community in Sri Lanka

PILOT CONTROL

Baseline Impact Baseline Impact

No. % No. % No. % No. %

Own well 206 32 206 29

2

0.7

2 0.6

Purchase from

bowser

255 41 324 45 296 98 325 98

Neighbor’s well 74

11

117

16

2

0,7

1

0,3

Public well 0

0

0

63

9

0

0

1

0,3

Tube well 0

0

7 1

0

0

3

1

Sea and other 5 0,7

Paliya (sand dune

well)

108 17 6 0,8 0 0 0 0

Rain water tank 3 0,4 6 0,8 0 0 0 0

Total 654 100 726 100 300 100 332 100

Paper presented for Symposium on November 29, 2006 at PGIA, University of Peradeniyawww.cosi.org.lk

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5.0 Overall research out put

5.1 Women’s work

In Morrelganj four women masons have been trained by those trained in Kerala to

construct sanitary latrines, rainwater harvesting tanks and composting bins. Two of them

have started their own business of a Village Sanitation Centre. They have expanded

construction to include also animal watering troughs and garden pots. From the

construction yard they also ship these items to other parts of the town.

In Sri Lanka the project had more mixed results providing paid work in sanitation for

women. From the trained girls all of them are now not involve with mason works due to

marriages, and due to the negative impression developed from the community for doing

technical works by females. Project intervention was resulted the establishment of a

Rural Ladies Development Society and it has conducted training courses on bridal dress

making, regular dress making, knitting and cookery which finally creates income

opportunities for women.

In Kerala the project has led to create a greater diversification of women’s employment

opportunities; paper bag making, selling worms and compost, growing and selling

vegetables and flowering plants and doing masonry work.

5.2 Human excreta disposal

At the time of the baseline survey, 79% of the households (330 households among 417)

in the pilot community in Bangladesh had a hygienic type of latrine. The post study

showed that at present 100% (septic tank (35.9%), off set toilet with single pit (10.5%)

and off set toilet with twin pits (5.1%), direct pit pour flash latrine (48.5%)) of the

households has hygienic latrines.

The situation in the control area is; initially, 42.4% (157 households out of 370) had a

hygienic type of latrine and this has dropped to 33.8% when asses at the end of the

project. The actual use of the latrines grew to 100% for women and men in pilot site. The

safe disposal of children’s faeces also improved, by 46% to 90%. Sixty six percent of the

households now use potties; none did this earlier. Difference of quality of construction

and operation of latrines in pilot and control area is 47%.

In Sri Lankan percentage of households with toilets in the intervention village rose from

69% to 89%. Those who shared a toilet doubled from one quarter to half of the

households without a toilet of their own. Reporting of excreta disposal being a problem

fell from 31% to 16%. In contrast, latrine ownership in the control village rose with only

4% to 39%. In Sri Lanka, children on safe defecation increased by 32% to 83%. In the

Sri Lankan project, all hygiene indicators were better for the pilot community, except the

presence of faecal parts in the water: 58% vs. 50%.

In Kerala ownership increased from 75% to 91% and the team did not study children’s

defecation. The percentage of quality of construction and operation of latrines was 6%

less in the pilot area than in the control area.

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5.3 Solid waste management

Waste management has improved considerably under the project. In Bangladesh,

nobody initially segregated waste and made compost, although 87% in the pilot are and

over 90% in the control area knew about composting. Now, 68% of the households in

the pilot area segregate waste and 29% make compost. In the control area segregation

now happens in 14% of the households, but no one yet makes compost.

In Kerala, 500 women have taken up barrel compost making. One plant nursery has

been established which uses vermi-composting. In the community of Karukkapane, the

demand for cemented compost bins dropped, as people considered them too expensive.

The project then switched to the promotion of stick barrels (a circle of sticks surrounded

by old fishnets). These have been adopted by 90% of the population. The compost is

used for home gardening or is sold to a nearby plant nursery.

5.4 Gender impacts

In Bangladesh, initially there was some doubt on whether women in a Muslim community

can become leaders or represents a development committee. At first time under the

project interventions women from the community represents a development committee

(Project Advisory Committee). Thus there was no women masons project could initiate

first women masonry enterprise in area.

In Sri Lanka, trained women did not continue in the masonry work but involved to other

work opportunities created through project. In the beginning only the women groups took

part in the activities, the major reason being that the local NGO catalyst was a woman

and all her contacts in the village were with women. Also as men are fishermen, mostly

only women had free time for the project. But eventually, as the village became more

aware of the project, and also due to the influence of the church, the males also got

involved in the work including public cleaning campaigns at youth club level and small

group level. Cleaning beach areas, abandoned land and public places happens at least

once every two months.

Women in the project area in Kerala increased their status due to their new knowledge

and skills. The greater attention to gender including to the training of men in hygiene has

resulted in an increase in male participation in cleaning work from 2% to 11.5%.

6.0 Summary

Water was burning need of all research communities, pilot and control. Addressing the

issues (quality & quantity) related to water were self-identified by the community it self.

Though the conducted research did not have funds for such intervention, communities

reached to a standard in which they’ve decided to spend their own money to improve the

facilities. This was a result of the effective hygiene education programme carried-out.

This tells us that the software can do wonders, when played appropriate.

References

Heinonen-Tanski, H., Snel, M., van Wijk-Sijbesma, C. Quazi, A.R., Mathew, K,

Werellagama, I.,Rahman, M., Rashid, S. M. A., Jayaweera, P. &Judith, H. 2006

Assessing of Environmental Quality in Six Areas in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.