Community Induced Planning for Climate Resilient Village

Located in UK

Topography: Valley

Frequent Flooding

Stakeholders: Communities living in low lying areas, Government

Property Losses

Damaged Infrastucture

Connectivity Losses

Electricity losses

Identification of Roots to cause

Formally constituting groups to protect individuals

Applied for Funding

Prepared property for floods (‘property level flood protection’)

Prepared a community flood plan

Created green space and 'Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems' (SUDS)

Not enough funding, Max. Impact

Protection Walls along Valley

Increasing Ground Level

Installing Flood Gates

Community Induced Resolution for Arsenic Contaminated Water

Ballia Village, Utter Pradesh, India

Itchy skin lesions, changes in skin colour, hardening and thickening of skin into nodules – these were some of the afflictions suffered by the villagers due to arsenic contamination of their drinking water sources. Gastrointestinal disturbances, chronic cough and shortness of breath added to their discomfort as well. When this continued for years and affected a majority of residents, the government swung into action in September 2011.

When did Ballia’s problems start?

This story began in 1990, when the government constructed a large number of hand pumps throughout Bihar and UP to provide clean, easy-to-access water to the villagers. The ease of using hand pumps won over the villagers and they began neglecting the existing open wells. Little did they realize that they would pay a large price for this convenience.

Suspecting arsenic poisoning, a fairly unknown subject then, it tested and analysed the village’s water sources. The report showed that 31 districts of UP had arsenic levels that were above the safety limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) set by World Health Organisation (WHO). In some areas, the value was nearly 130 times the prescribed safety limit

Alternatives:• Pipelines• Overhead Storage Tanks• Treatment Plants

Failure of Projects:• High Cost & Maintenance• It takes Time• Energy Deficit State

When Government Fails, Community takes charge!

Cause of contaminationIn addition to exploring options on how to remedy this situation, they wanted to understand how this contamination happened to get to the root of the problem. No gold mines had been discovered in the area that could have leached this poison into the groundwater since arsenic is a toxic by-product of gold mines. In a typical groundwater table, the very shallow and very deep aquifers tend to contain lesser arsenic. The middle layer tends to be the most contaminated.When the switch over to hand pumps was made, the aquifers were tapped at a depth of 40-60 m leaching out iron and arsenic. That is what aggravated the problem and led the arsenic to reach the levels that it did.In Ballia district alone, 38% of the hand pumps tested had a higher arsenic content than the mandatory standards as per WHO recommendations. The dilemma for people was to find an alternate, sustainable and safe water source.

Remedying the situationOne answer was to dig deep tubewells or deep hand pumps that delved into the deeper uncontaminated aquifers, which could be a source of arsenic-free water but the huge costs and the long term safety of these sources was debatable. Over consumption or improper installation would lead to their eventual pollution. So made plan to revive old sources.

Today more and more villagers join hands to keep their water sources safe and hygienic.

Now they are healthier, happier and arsenic-free.

Wells that were once an integral part of the village culture, are slowly regaining their lost value and importance.