MYRADA adopted a life-cycle approach to water management by adopting a three tiered approach:

• Supply augmentation and source sustainability:  In cases where demand was greater than supply. This was done through roof water collection, increasing the capacity and improving the quality of surface water sources for domestic use and replenishing underground water sources.
• Improving water governance: The project worked with the people and the representatives of the local government to bring in measures to ensure optimal usage of water and reduce wastage.  Measures were taken by the local government to regulate ground water abstraction. Metered water supply was introduced.
• Ensuring equity – Water was provided to all households, with residents using multiple sources of water to feed the distribution system.

In addition to ensuring water security the project also focused on sanitation and hygiene awareness and toilet construction were promoted. Ecosan toilets were constructed with a view to promote conversion of waste to manure.

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Water supply for residents is a big challenge in urban India, and is more so in small towns, where institutionally and organisationally there are not enough trained and qualified people. In early 2007, Arghyam decided to venture into the urban water space and initiated a pilot programme on Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) in Mulbagal, a town in Kolar district, 100 kms from Bengaluru. From 2008 to 2012, several activities were taken up under this programme with a consortium of partners from government, civil society, academic, and other water sector institutions.

Over the course of four years, this multi-phase initiative included first, a Preparatory phase of engaging the local and state government stakeholders and developing the partnerships. This was followed by the Foundation phase which involved a series of studies to identify issues, mobilising the local community, and setting up the Project Support Unit (PSU). Third was the Planning and Design phase, during which appropriate interventions were planned, based on the evidence generated and prioritised by the local stakeholders. The fourth phase, Implementation, involved guiding the local actors in implementing a few targeted interventions. The final Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase involved building local capacities and strengthening institutional or community structures to manage the interventions.

The post ‘Jala Jagruthi’ – An action research project in Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) in Mulbagal town appeared first on Arghyam.