Population: 1.2 billionAnnual no. of under-5 deaths: 1.8 million
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years
Population without an improved drinking water source: 12%
Sources: WHO/UNICEF, Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water, 2010; UNICEF
Optimizing Solutions in Water-scarce Regions
In 2008, Safe Water Network launched its rainwater harvesting initiative in Rajasthan, India. With improvements in construction designs, funding products and water quality assurance, we are increasing the viability of this traditional technique for collecting and storing rainwater in arid regions.
Our goal is to demonstrate and deliver cost-effective community and household systems to underserved communities. New funding options extend the potential for ownership to individuals and families previously unable to afford the upfront costs of systems. These household loans for rainwater harvesting provide the opportunity for low-income, rural populations to install a cistern that will significantly improve their ability to access safe water year-round. A policy “white paper” is being developed to make the case for government participation in an expansion program with potential to achieve scale.
Initiative highlights:
- Cost reduction: Lowered costs to individuals and communities by 30% with new design and materials.
- Loan product: Developed new financing product with Centre for Micro Finance that provides household consumer with small loans to purchase systems; repayment is made over a three-year period.
- Quality assurance: Testing alternative quality programs to improve water quality, including the integration of point-of-use household filters.
- Capacity development: Local masons trained in cistern construction, establishing local capacity to expand and maintain rainwater harvesting cisterns.
Rainwater Harvesting Featured, January-February 2010, Transforming India: Our initiative was featured in a journal article focused on innovative water financing to create sustainable, scalable rainwater harvesting models.
