Case Study: clean streets in Rahlana thanks to a new soak pit

Just three months ago the streets next to Jagdish Sharma's house were filthy. Flies and mosquitos hovered over the dirty surface water and the smell was overpowering. All the waste water from Rahlana's hand pumps flowed over the land. Pigs enjoyed the cool mud but villagers were often ill with stomach problems from the bacteria. These unhygienic conditions were dangerously close to the drinking water source and affected many children in the nearby school. Women collecting water after dark often fell over, vehicles found it hard to navigate the uneven roads, pregnant ladies and the elderly found it dangerous and Jagdish felt embarrassed when guests came to stay. From 4am until 9.30pm the hand pump was constantly in use providing water for 40 families and when women washed cooking pots at the well there was even more waste water.

In December 2009 GVNML built a soak pit next to all 15 hand pumps in Rahlana, with funding from Wells For India. The closest pump to Jagdish's house also has a khali, or animal trough. Waste water from the pump first flows into the trough for birds, cattle and dogs to drink, then excess reaches the soak pit and percolates into the soil, recharging the ground water. The streets and drinking water are kept free from dangerous waste water and the villagers are healthy and happy.

Before GVNML started work on the soak pits, Jagdish thought the problem could never be solved. There was little unity between the village community to take action and they didn't have the technical expertise. There is now a new sense of cooperation in the village. Residents are proud of their clean streets and work together to keep them that way.