Connecting isolated communities of Kamalamai to a safe water supply

As we drove towards Bhiman, a small settlement within Kamalamai where CIUD has its local office, we passed a large river. Three of the wards in which this project is working lie on the other side of the river, further down from where this photo was taken. Access by road takes far too long, so our partner staff can only enter these wards by foot through the river. It is 2.5 feet deep on a good day, and impossible to cross after a period of rainfall. Their courage and skill left a lasting impression on us. When we construct the water schemes in these wards, tractors will help to transport the materials accross the river. 

This project started in April 2013 and it was very interesting for us to compare a new project with the completed project we had seen in Itahari. We visited Bathanchaudi in Ward 12, where we will construct a gravity flow water system once the rainy season is over. This will help to ensure a supply of safe water all year round. Currently, while the community can access water during the rainy season, there is a severe lack of water in the dry season. 

The gravity flow system will ensure that water is tapped from a higher source in the hills and stored in reservoirs so that it can be accessed all year round through community tap stands. The water will be filtered in a sedimentation tank, and we will raise awareness on further water purification techniques, including boiling, SODIS (solar disinfection) and filtration. 

Right: A house in Bathanchaudi in Ward 12.