A longitudinal bacteriological study of drinking water quality in rural Western Maharashtra and its effects on changes in local drinking water management and practices

This longitudinal study was undertaken by The Foundation for Medical Research and The Foundation for Research in Community Health in the Parinche valley in Purandar block (Pune district) of interior Western Maharashtra with the aim of testing bacteriological quality of rural water supplies. A continuous feedback to the community was undertaken aiming a movement towards self-help against diseases like diarrhoea and improved water management through increased community participation.

A total of 313 water samples were collected from piped supply and alternate sources from 6 villages. Hundred and fifty six (49.8%) samples were polluted. From the piped water supply, 91(45.9%) samples were polluted. Overall ground water quality was good as compared to open wells. Irregular and / or inadequate treatment of water, lack of drainage systems, domestic washing near the wells lead to deterioration in water quality.

No major diarrhoeal epidemics were recorded during the study although a few sporadic cases were noted during rainy season. Peoples' perceptions changed with time and increased awareness noted through active participation of people cutting across age groups and different socio-economic strata of the society in the village activities. Thus, drawing attention towards water supply and management at community level served to inculcate a problem solving capacity for water related issues in a chronic drought prone rural community.

An approach for consolidating a rural community’s response towards accessing potable drinking water is described here. The cyclical approach of multi-level surveillance, feedback to community and engendering of technological competence to the community was able to spark interest, capacity and response in different segments of the community. That this response was evoked in a drought-prone period when water availability was scarce testifies to the power of such an approach. Multi-level empowerment in a community also ensures the sustainability of such an approach which should extend also to local governance institutions such as Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The outcomes of such interventions should not be restricted to levels of diarrhoeal morbidities. The generation of empowerment and awareness through the process are important indicators of success as are the increasing volumes of case histories testifying to concerted community action towards their local water resources.

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