Kerala Clean Water Project

Jal Dhaara, India
Drinking water, humanitarian project to address community needs,

Heavy flooding in 2018 and 2019 resulted in loss of life and severe damage to homes, communities, and infrastructure in the Kuttanad area of central Kerala, India. Surveys showed excessive presence of toxic pesticides and E coli bacteria in the water, which had contaminated drinking water sources.

People living in this area are fishermen, small farmers, and low-income daily wage earners. Most residents could not afford the prices charged for water transported by tanker which resulted in many resorting to drinking polluted water. This in turn resulted in a spike of water borne diseases and an increase in the number of cancer cases.

The project proposed to the Disaster Recovery Trust was to provide drinking water to people in the two “Panchayaths” of Kuttanad. The project when completed will benefit 7000 families (30,000 people).

The first 15 units (of 25 planned) were commissioned in the early summer 2022 and are now fully operational providing safe and affordable drinking water to 20,000 people. The water purification process is known as reverse osmosis. Each reverse osmosis unit required construction and connection to a reliable electricity supply. The installation of all plants was completed in March 2022 and the electricity supplies completed in late July early August. Water supplies.

Maintenance arrangements are in place and training to the local committees who will manage and service each station.

After Rotary cadres’ inspection of the first 15 units, funding and authority will be given to complete the remaining 10 units.

This was a joint project between Rotary clubs of Cochin Heritage and international partner RC Weston- super- Mare with the Rotary Disaster Recovery Trust providing $50,000 to the total costs of $169000. The project was supported by the two clubs, local corporate donations and the Rotary Foundation world fund.