Abstract
The Indian mega-city of Mumbai is undergoing a major makeover through large-scale shifting of slum dwellers from hutments to proper buildings with fixed size of dwelling units. This rehabilitated community of the urban poor is facing a high disease burden, apparently due to its poor sanitation and hygienic practices. This study conducted a baseline health survey, especially with regard to water borne diseases, along with water quality assessment, in a slum rehabilitated building of Mumbai. The health survey and water assessment indicated that while the rehabilitated slum dwellers had poor hygienic practices, the contamination of municipality-supplied water was causing significant health hazards for the residents. Some residents did use basic water disinfection processes like boiling, straining and chlorination, but with little positive impact on health quality. This study highlights the importance of sanitation and hygiene along with the significance of provision of better water quality. Quality of water supplied by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) being fairly good, the contamination of drinking water with sewer lines is indicated. For such problems, community-based treatment should augment household-level treatment of water.
Highlights
Water being an indispensable necessity of life, it is imperative that every human being has access to clean drinking water
An estimated 90% of the 3 billion people who are expected to be added to the population by 2050 will be in developing countries, many in regions that are already experiencing water stress and the current population does not have sustainable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation
The Network Park compound area houses a total of 60 buildings
Summary
Water being an indispensable necessity of life, it is imperative that every human being has access to clean drinking water. According to a 2009 United Nations World Water Development Report, only 54% of the world’s population had a piped connection to their dwelling, plot or yard, and 33% used other improved drinking water sources. An estimated 90% of the 3 billion people who are expected to be added to the population by 2050 will be in developing countries, many in regions that are already experiencing water stress and the current population does not have sustainable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. The same report mentions the fact that more than 5 billion people, i.e., 67% of the world population – may still not be connected to public sewerage systems in 2030 [1]
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