Evaluation of functioning, quality parameters and possibility of community management in gravity fed rural water supply schemes in Garhwal (Uttar Pradesh, India)

The government of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is no longer able to subsidize the operation and maintenance costs of rural water supply schemes, and has therefore decided to hand these systems over to village committees. To study the feasibility of this approach, three gravity-fed village water supply schemes, two community-managed and one government-managed, were compared. The study was carried out in Dehra Dun district of Garhwal in northern Uttar Pradesh. The three schemes were compared on the basis of their functioning (reliability), water quality, operation and maintenance costs, and water use. Information was collected from village leaders, villagers, men's and women's organizations and government officials. The community-managed schemes were found to supply a regular and continuous amount of water to the public standposts. Water supply from the government-managed scheme was irregular and there were two to three breakdowns in the system every month. The operation and maintenance costs of the government-managed scheme were higher than those of the community-managed systems. The author, who works for the state water organization, Jal Nigam, suggests that community members still require further technical, managerial and financial training. He also recommends that independent operation and maintenance organizations should be set up.