A pilot community water safety plan in Nepal for point sources with household water treatment

Abstract

A pilot water safety plan (WSP) was developed for a rural terai (plain) community of Chitwan District, Nepal, where drinking water is from point sources (hand-dug wells or bore wells). Many families also use a household biosand filter. The WSP was developed through a partnership between Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) and Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB). The pilot aimed to identify WSP methods acceptable to the community and local NGOs. It included hazard assessments, improvement plans and monitoring plans to be implemented by the village water committee with local level capacity building. WSP tools piloted included community hazard mapping around wells and a household WSP checklist to monitor control measures. The WSP approach was designed for ongoing community implementation and management, and will be utilized in future water supply projects by the NGO, NEWAH.