Objective:
To provide Kanchan Arsenic Filter (KAF) as a sustainable and appropriate household water treatment alternative for arsenic and pathogens in two VDCs of Parsa district through micro-finance and partial subsidy model.

Responsible Agencies:
Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)
Nepal Red Cross Society, Parsa District Chapter.

Project areas:
Langadi and Mudali VDCs of Parsa District

Funding Source:
The World Bank, NRs. 14, 00,000.

Project Duration:
July 2005-July 2006

Project Background:
Ground water is the main source of drinking water in the Terai region of Nepal. Several studies have reported high arsenic levels besides microbial contamination. Thus, many people are at the risk of arsenic poisoning and water-related diseases. To combat with this problem, ENPHO in collaboration with MIT and RWSSP has developed an innovative household level Kanchan Arsenic Filter which can simultaneously remove arsenic and pathogens from drinking water. The filter design is optimized based on intensive research and thorough field assessments of the socio-economic conditions of the arsenic affected villages. DM2003 Global award was awarded to MIT & ENPHO for promotion of this filter in highly arsenic affected rural Terai. The project has successfully implemented by establishing local entrepreneurs for assembling and marketing of filters at local levels, creating demand of the filter by awareness campaign. It has been estimated that Nepal needs about 40,000 of such type of filter as immediate solution for arsenic mitigation. However, only 2000 + filters have been distributed so far after DM2003 program. This is mainly due to the financial constraint since majority of poor people can not afford even Rs. 1500.00 to purchase the filter.

By realizing the fact, this program has been prepared to demonstrate micro-financing and subsidy model by participating local people to make access of this filter to poorest of the poor group at the community. We believe the proposed model is going to be a sustainable and unbiased approach to provide safe drinking water to all.

To demonstrate all these activities we have selected only two highly arsenic affected VDCs of Parsa district where total population is 7,750 with 1,227 households (about 600 household drinking water from arsenic contaminated tube wells). Majority of inhabitants of these two VDCs are the poorest of the poor. Out of 457 tube wells in these two villages, 43.5% are contaminated with high arsenic (>50 ppb) level and about 66 % of tube wells are above WHO guideline value (>10 ppb).

Project Activities:

Awareness at project villages
• Conduct 2 VDC level and 18 Ward level training/Workshops on water, health, arsenic and KAF

• Household level woman-to-woman training/orientation on proper hygiene and KAF O&M.

• Organize interactive school programs to teach teachers and students about water, health and KAF information.

• Conduct street dramas, broadcast radio program in local language and distribute IEC materials to convey message about water, health and KAF.

Coordination with local authorities, concerned departments, I/NGOs and Civil Societies
• Orient and discuss with local government authorities and other active NGOs about the project activities to receive their interest and support for the project.

• Organize regular discussion and meeting programs with local GO and NGOs.

Strengthen Supply Scheme
• Negotiate with potential filter raw materials suppliers to obtain best material quality, performance and price.

• Conduct advanced training to local entrepreneurs and supply chain actors on marketing, financial management and business strategies development.

• Develop contract and regulations to ensure quality, reliability and efficiency.

• Follow-up visits and trainings.

Develop Financing Mechanism
• Set up local user's committee to get loan from the micro-financing institution.

• Negotiate with potential local micro-financing institution to provide loans to the local user's committee.

• Provide 50% filter subsidy to the villagers.

• Develop contract and regulations to ensure accountability, fairness and accessibility.

Evaluation and Information Dissemination
• Conduct user's survey to assess the success of the project.

• Conduct district and national level workshops to disseminate the project findings.

• Present the project findings on various national and international conferences.

Expected Outcomes:

Immediate Term
• Provide safe water to 3500+ beneficiaries, improving their health, reducing arsenic and/or microbial related diseases, especially among the poorest and marginalized groups.

• Observable improvement after drinking arsenic-safe water for 1 year, as compared to initially established baselines among melanosis and/or keratosis sufferers.

• Significant reduction of water-borne diseases, as compared to initially established baselines
.
• 90+% of filters will continue to be in operation after 1 year.

• 90+% users will like the taste, appearance, and smell of the filtered water.

• Trained local health partners and community groups will incorporate arsenic and water health education as part of their regular community campaign.

Longer Term
• Country will have modest financing mechanism to conduct arsenic mitigation program throughout the country which will support to mobilize internal resources to tackle crisis like arsenic.

• Since this project will continue to sustain beyond the project period, more people will gain access to a filter for improved health.

• Children prone to water-borne diseases will have less sickness, more time to go to school and increased class attendance.

• Women spending long time travelling to fetch better quality water will save time by filtering the contaminated water from their own tube wells; the extra time allowing them to take care of family members or to pursuit income generating activities.

• Better public health contributes to higher quality of life and mental health. Also, it will result in increased productivity, leading to overall economic growth of society, contributing to poverty-alleviation

For more information, contact:
Bipin Dangol
Project Coordinator

KAF Project/ KAF Reference Center
Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)
Tel: +977-1-4468641, 4493188