Project ProposalSUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER PROGRAMME FOR THE POOR FAMILIES IN METHALA PANCHAYAT THROUGH CONSTRUCTION OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS

Submitted by:

 

KOTTAPUAM INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY [KIDS]

KIDS’ Campus, N.H. 17, Kottapuram – 680 667

Kodungallur, Kerala

Ph: 0480-2803165, 2807638

E-mail:   kidskottapuram@sify.com

I.  BACKGROUND OF KOTTAPURAM INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY [KIDS]

The Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS) is the official organization of the Diocese of Kottapuram in order to promote, conduct, facilitate and coordinate developmental activities for the poor and the needy, irrespective of caste, creed or community.  Established in the year 1987 and registered under the Charitable Societies Act in 1988, KIDS has earned a very good reputation and an excellent mass base.  As the majority of the people within the area of operation of KIDS are traditional fishermen, artisanal workers, coir spinning workers, marginal farmers, etc., we are giving utmost care for uplifting them from their pathetic situation.  KIDS was able to do remarkable facilitation work for the victims of Tsunami affected areas by giving immediate relief activities and now the long term rehabilitation.

 

II. ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS OF KIDS

 

Name of the Organization	Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)
Address	Secretary, KIDS campus Kottapuram P.O. 680 667, Kodungallur, Thrissur Dist, Kerala. Phone - 0480-2803165, 2807638, Fax - 0480-2803165, EMail - kidskottapuram@sify.com
Name of the President	Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarakal, (Bishop of Kottapuram)
Name of the Chief functionary	Fr. Johnson Panketh
Legal Status	Registered under Charitable Societies Act. Reg.No. 64/1988
Staff pattern	No. of office staff              : 19 (10 women, 9 men) No. of field staff                : 30 (30 women) No. of project staff            : 23
FCRA Registration No	052900311

 

III. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT AREA

 

The project is envisaged for providing sustainable drinking water through harvesting of rainwater and for developing sanitary toilets for the poor rural families of Methala Panchayat.  The population density of the area is 6000 persons per square kilometer.  The area is fully surrounded by salime water, which is the main reason for the drinking water scarcity experienced here.  The families which lack toilets prefer either open defecation or the toilets are unhygienic or outlets of the toilets are directly flushing into the nearby canals and other water bodies.  There are 62 domestic wells in the area.  These wells are the main drinking water source for the local people.  We conducted laboratory tests of the water available in the wells.  The results are highly alarming. The water in the wells contained large quantities of fecal colliform bacteria (bacteria found in human fecal matter).  This shows that human fecal matter is reaching the wells through the loose soil.  This is because of the lack of sanitary latrines for most of the families.

The lack of proper drinking water and sanitation for the area results in constant appearance of water-borne diseases namely typhoid, dysentery Cholera, etc.  This is effecting the local population severely.

There is a Government drinking water supply system available in the project area but water arrives in the pipe only once in 2 weeks or so.  Therefore it cannot meet the need of the local people at all.

 

IV. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS FOR OVERCOMING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS

 

The following are the solutions for the above problems expressed by the local people of the area.  The project area receives an average annual rainfall of 3000 millimeters (3 metres).  Just after the rainfall the water is flowing in to the lake. 60 percent of the rain is received during June and July months as pert of South West Monsoon. 30 percent is received in October and November as pert of North East Monsoon.  Therefore, if these rains can be harvested and collected into ferro-cement tanks, it can be used for overcoming the water scarcity experienced during the non-rainy months.  This is most easy in Methala Panchayat as most of the houses here are with tiled roof.  So that rain water can be collected easily into a tank. 5000 litres of water alone is necessary for a family in the area (with 4 to 5 members) for surviving in the non-rainy months.  Therefore, a ferro-cement water tank constructed for each house shall solve the freshwater crisis experienced by the people of Methala Panchayat.

 

V. CONSTRUCTION OF FERRO-CEMENT TANKS FOR HARVESTING RAIN WATER

 

(A). FERRO-CEMENT TECHNOLOGY

Ferro-cement technology is globally recognized as a cost effective, appropriate, location specific and user-friendly method for harvesting and storing rainwater.  The word “ferro” is derived from “Ferrus” which means iron.  In 1848, a French Engineer named Joseph Louis Lambot plastered rich cement mortar in a small thickness to make a boat.  The reinforcement was this wire mesh.  The plastering was done on both sides.  It is found to be very strong and useful.  This is considered the first application of ferro-cement technology.  Ferro cement is therefore a material in which iron mesh and rich cement mortar are ideally used to construct various types of structures.  Ferro cement technology is extensively applied in the construction of water tanks all over the world.  Water tanks made from wire reinforced cement mortar can be generally called ferro-cement tanks.  The ferro-cement tanks are built by hand trovwelling cement rich mortar on to a mesh of wire reinforcement.  Such tank structures are usually cylindrical in shape.  The walls of the structure are thin.  The thickness varies from 3 to 10 cm depending on the size of the tank.

 

(B). HARVESTING RAIN WATER INTO THE TANK

Ferro-cement technology is widely used all over the world.  Rain falling on house roofs can be harvested using appropriate metal gutters, which are fixed to the fringe of the roof.  Rainwater falling on the roof area is collected and is diverted to the main storage tank though a filter.  The filter is usually a small tank or similar arrangement medium, which is filled up with small stone aggregates, gravel and charcoal.  Impurities will be either absorbed or checked in the filter media and only pure water will flow into the tank.  First flush off the water received from the initial rains.  Dust and other dirt on the roof and air will not get into the tank as the top is covered.  Water collected and stored in the tank can be used in the non-raining months.  The water thus stored in the tank can be used even for several years.  This has been scientifically well proved and established through many studies.

This is the one and only immediate sustainable solution for solving the acute problem of drinking water scarcity faced by Kerala State.  Local masons, especially ladies are to be trained and specialized in the construction of ferro-cement water storage in the area through harvesting of rainwater not only provide adequate water for drinking purposes, but also reduce the drudgery of the women who are often involved in collection of water for the family.  This is also of great value for the health of the people as they can use the most pure water and that itself without even chlorination.

In view of all these facts KIDS is giving utmost care for the construction and popularization of rooftop rain water harvesting through ferro-cement tanks.

 

VI. THE PROPOSED PROJECT

 

(A). GOAL OF THE PROJECT

The goal of the project is for providing drinking water to the rural poor of Methala Panchayat, Thrissur District, Kerala State. 

 

(B). THINGS TO BE DONE FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

 

CONSTRUCTION OF FERRO CEMENT RAINWATER HARVESTING TANKS

A tank of 5000 litre capacity costs only Rs. 12500/-, out of this a contribution of the respective beneficiaries will be in kind amounting to Rs. 1000/-.  6 to 7 days will be necessary for the construction of this tank.  There are plenty of local masons trained by KIDS for the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks.  KIDS has constructed several ferro-cement tanks of various capacities all over the State and have ample experience with the same.  A total of 15 ferro-cement rainwater-harvesting tanks are to be constructed as part of this project for solving the drinking water scarcity of 15 most deserving families in the village.  This shall be achieved within one year time.

 

 

VII. BUDGET

TOTAL BUDGET

ITEM	AMOUNT	TOTAL (Rs.)
Construction of 10 Rain Water Harvesting Systems	Rs. 12,500 x 15	1,87,500
Contribution in Kind		15,000
Amount Requested		1,72,500

 

COST DETAILS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ONE 5000 LITRE RAINWATER HARVESTING TANK

 

Sl. No.	DESCRIPTION	AMOUNT
	RAW MATERIALS
1	Wild Mesh - ½ Roll	800
2	Chicken Mesh - 2½ Roll	1200
3	Bricks - 250 nos.	700
4	Cement - 10 packet	2500
5	Sand - 1 Mini Load	2200
6	Iron 8 mm – 40 kg.	1070
7	Binding Wayer – 500 gm.	30
8	Plumbing Materials	1100
9	White Cement – 5 kg.	100
10	Metal – 7 Sacks	200
11	Leek Proof – 1 no.	20
12.	Fan Hook – 2 nos.	30
Total for Raw Materials		9,950
	WAGES
	Mason 5 nos @ Rs. 270/each	1350
	Helper 5 nos @ Rs. 200/each	1000
	Labour Charges for Plumbing and White Wash	200
Total for Wages		2,550
	GRAND TOTAL	12,500

 

VIII. CONCLUSION

Methala Panchayat in Thrissur District, Kerala State, India, badly lacks drinking water and sanitary toilets for many families.  The area receives 3 metres of rain every year.  Harvesting this rain in ferro-cement tanks and using the same in the non-rainy months will solve the drinking water problem of the area.

 

The project envisages making Methala Panchayat into an area in which all families are having the basic and necessary facilities namely safe drinking water.  With this idea in mind the project is prepared for providing awareness activities for the local population, construction of ferro-cement rainwater harvesting tanks all families, which lack the same.

The project is expected to be completed in within 1 year.  By this time, the most needful families in this village shall be provided with rainwater harvesting tanks for getting drinking water.  This will ultimately make the area with drinking water for the most deprived and needy thus reducing the health problems significantly.

Sketch of the Various Plants of Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting System

 

PLACING OF GUTTER FOR COLLECTING RAINWATER
WATER COLLECTED INTO THE PIPE	COLLECTED WATER TAKEN INTO THE TANK
FILTER	FERRO-CEMENT TANK

 

LIST OF BENEFICIARIES FOR IMPLEMENTING RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS IN METHALA PANCHAYAT

Sl. No.	Name and Address of Beneficiary	Total No. Of Family Members	Occupation of  Family  Members	Total Annual Income of the Family
1.	Ambika Achuthan Ullookaran (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	6	Bakery works, Fishing, Fish vending	2000/-
2.	Lethika Shaji Vaalthara (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Canteen work, Loading / Unloading	2200/-
3.	Rosy Thomas Kallarakal (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	6	Dairy Farming, Loading / Unloading, Mason	2500/-
4.	Prema Chidambaran Tharayil (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Coir Making, Mason	2000/-
5.	Raji Thankachan Chozhiyath (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Paper Agent	2250/-
6.	Mani Babu Karukassery (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	4	Jobless, Mason	1800/-
7.	Ajitha Sivadasan Chalaana (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Coir Making, Loading / Unloading	2300/-
8.	Leela Joy Palliparambil (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	2	Bakery Work, Mason	2000/-
9.	Latha Sajeev Tharayil (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	4	Water Hyacinth Craft, Sand Mining	2700/-
10.	Jeseentha Jiblin Olattupuram (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	4	Mason	1800/-
11.	Mini Ambrose Puthanangadi (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Mason	1700/-
12.	Sonia Prince Padamattummel (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	5	Construction Work	2000/-
13.	Susy Biju Manjali (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	4	Coir Work, Construction Work	2000/-
14.	Babu George Chakkalakkal (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	2	Cooli, Tile Work	1800/-
15.	Annie Joseph Palliyil (H) Kottapuram P.O V.P. Thuruth	4	Shell Collection	1700/-

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