Summary of Main Findings
The experience gained in implementing a rural water program with people’s participation
in Pune and Thana districts of Maharashtra, can be summarised as follows:
1.People will actively participate in a water program offering labour and local material,
and also a small amount of cash for pump maintenance, if the new water source belongs
to them. In this case is their responsibility to take good care of it.
2.The site selection should be done with the people’s participation and approval and
should, as much as possible, satisfy the women.
3.It is advisable that villagers select a person, or a couple, possibly living close to the well
site, as responsible for the care-taking of the pump. The selected person(s) should be trained in
preventive maintenance and supplied with a toolbox for small repairs.
4.Simple, low-cost technology, appropriate to people and local conditions, contributes to
reduce pump maintenance and dependency from outside help.
5.Pump maintenance will be easily carried out by beneficiaries if villages are located in
developed areas. Villages located in remote areas, instead, will have difficulty in
keeping their water wells in working conditions.
6.Drilling and pump installation depths should be established on the basis of well yield,
water level and water entry depths, number of users and other local factors.
7.People’s awareness on the importance of drinking clean, safe water, by keeping the
new created water source free from pollution, helps to reduce water-borne diseases. It
is therefore necessary to explain, specially to women and children, the importance of
hygienic measure to prevent water contamination.
8.The construction of a concrete platform(3X3ft) for washing clothes will discourage the
use of the well platform for this purpose. The construction of a trough for animals and
a fence around the well may also help to keep the site pollution-free.
9.A rural village water program is successful if, in addition to the above points, the
cultural and religious aspects of the people are respected and imbedded into it.
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