Water Collection & Consumption behaviour in Rural Haryana

Abstract

Provision of safe water supply is one of the most effective tools to improve the health status of the communities. It has been estimated that the burden of sickness in the world would be reduced by nearly 80% if it were possible to supply safe water to people everywhere. As of 2005, 12% of India's population or127million people (92million in villages &35 million in towns) were without clean drinking water supply. Intensive national and international efforts are being made to have potable water for all by the year 2010. Latest assessment indicates that about 80% of rural population in India has access to safe drinking water & 36% has access to adequate sanitation facilities, out of which 9% is in rural area. About 70% of the population was using water from wells for drinking & cooking purposes and 8-19% from piped water supply and about 10-20% from hand pumps. The average distance traveled to fetch water from wells was about 1/2 -1 k.m., from piped water 300-400 m, & from hand pumps was 600-1400 m. It consumed 1 1/2; -2 hrs to fetch a bucket/pitcher of water from the source. Problems faced were like irregular supply (80%), less taps (80%), poor maintenance and fight at the source (90%), besides some personal factors.