| The Need for Adequate Water Supply |
A new properly built well can provide people with more and better water. But
the new well itself may have little or no impact on the surrounding community's
health if the well users do not know how to make effective use of the water.
It is important to learn the water needs of a local population in order to
construct an appropriate water source. In all locales an adequate supply of
clean water is essential for maintaining and improving health. Many of the
most common and serious diseases in developing countries are closely related
to the amount and quality of water people use. Without an adequate supply of
clean water, little can be done to control diseases that spread through
contaminated water supplies.
In order to ascertain local needs, you must consider two limiting
aspects to the provision of water: 1) the quality of
the water and 2) the quantity of water available locally.
Good quality water does not contain chemicals and bacteria which are hazards
to health and life. The quality of water can be assured by:
locating the site to avoid possible water contamination;
proper construction of the well or any
other water source, to protect the water supply from contamination;
initial and periodic water treatment, usually with
chlorine, to kill dangerous bacteria (see Appendix VIII, Water Treatment);
education of the local users so that
they can maintain the purity, or at least prevent the
gross contamination of their water.
The quantity of water is often more difficult to ensure.
Especially in a rural setting, access (distance) to water will
often limit the amount that can be used by each
individual, because of the time needed to convey it. Quantity,
however, has a direct bearing on health.
Five liters per person per day is considered the minimum consumption
level, although desert dwellers exist on less. More than 50
liters per person per day, it has been estimated, gains
no further health benefits. Twentyfive liters per person per day
may become an acceptable goal in places where piped connections
to individual houses are not feasible. Wherever possible, water use
beyond minimum-level consumption should be encouraged. Consumption will rise under
the following circumstances:
new well construction to provide a water source closer to a
group of people, who will then presumably be able to
gather more water in the same amount of time that
they previously were able to do;
education of local users toward a greater use of water, especially
for hygienic purposes (bathing, washing clothes and cooking utensils).
The quantity of water needed may
also be significantly affected by the number of livestock that
require water and by whether the water is to be
used for garden irrigation.