"I Have Clean Water"

We continue our look at clean water stories from Sri Lanka, as part of our WASH program (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) series. This story comes P.G Kalyani, a 38-year old woman in Magalthota. She has two sons and a daughter who are still schooling. Her husband is a mason. Villagers in this area are suffering immensely due to non-availability of water. Water is collected from very far away places. 

 Learn more about our WASH program with our free downloadable report or watch our WASH: Life Without Water video on our YouTube channel.

"My water is now clean"

We cannot obtain water from neighbors because the quality of water in the wells located in the area is not suitable for drinking as it is often saline and gives a different taste. Therefore water has been a burning issue for the entire village for years.

I have a well in my garden, but it can only be used for domestic purposes. For bathing and washing, we have to go to an outlying well. The well runs dry in dry seasons. It's a felt need to find out a solution for the purification of water as we drink contaminated water. The villagers in the area are often sick without a particular reason. Later it was found out by the Public Health Inspector (PHI) in the area that it was due to drinking contaminated water. As I said earlier, water is collected from distant places in containers which have been used for years. This is a common scene in the village. No persons or organizations paid attention towards this problem.

One day, the PHI in the area came to our house and told me that he is doing a survey to find out beneficiaries for biosand filters. Biosand filters are new to our community. Thirty villagers, including me, were selected as beneficiaries for these filters. We were taught how to use  the filters by the PHI and by Malteser International, who funded the filters. After training, we built filters as per the instruction given by the PHI.

There are several ways of purifying water. I know only a few of them. But none of them were used by me to purify water before the introduction of biosand filters. When water is boiled, my children hesitate to drink it saying that boiled water doesn't quench thirst. This biosand filter is being used to purify water. There is no any change in the taste of water after the purification and in addition water becomes cold.

Several water testing were done and we were told that the purified water is free from bacteriological contamination. Malteser International often visit our houses to help us maintain the filter. Maintenance of the filter is very simple.

I am very happy to say that this filter is very useful to us and I feel there's an improvement in our health as we are free from diseases such as diarrhea. Now, we drink purified water. We can understand that unpurified water can make us ill. I take this opportunity to thank Maltser for giving us a very useful water filter.

Author: Muditha Menu Mataraarachchi  Malteser International, WASH Office, Galle.

Clean Water Stories from Sri Lanka

Clean water and hygiene is necessary in our daily lives. But what if you lacked access to clean water? Following World Water Week in Stockholm in August, we've received two heart-warming stories from people in Sri Lanka who have received our help as part of our WASH program (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). Our first story is from L.G.H Padumawathi, a 48-year woman living in Maliyagoda, Sri Lanka. She and her husband lost their home in the devastating tsunami in 2004. Our rehabilitation programs have given her a chance at proper hygiene to stay disease-free.

We;ll publish our second story tomorrow. You can also read more about our WASH program with our free downloadable report or watch our WASH: Life Without Water video on our YouTube channel.

"Thank you, Malteser"

I am Padmawathi, aged 48 years, and I live in Maliyagoda. My husband is S.W.A Premarathna. He has been working as a laborer. Since his liver operation due to a cancer, I have to play the major role in the family. We don't have children. Anyhow I have to take part in a daily battle for living. I work as a coir -maker and I am paid RS 250 per day ($ 2.5 USD) which is just enough to meet the daily expenses. We were affected by the Tsunami and as a result lost our house. After the destruction we were selected to have a new house, and were informed to find some land for construction of the house by ourselves. Being very poor it was hard to find some land. Later we were given a small plot of land which is really like a wetland. We were given a partially completed house.

Building a latrine on a land like this was a major problem. We were not able to construct even a temporary latrine due to the high water level. We didn't have any option other than going to the bush amid complaints from our neighbors. Only a few of the neighbors have latrines but they didn't like to share the latrine with us. We were often sick without reasons.

Having a latrine was like a dream. I never thought that the dream could be realized. Several times the Public Health Inspector (PHI) came to our house and instructed us not to go to the bushes as it causes disease outbreaks to the other villagers as well. Later I understood that the neighbors had complained to the health authorities regarding the use of the bush by us.  Actually I couldn't think of what to do. I was in trouble.   
 
One day, some of the officials form Malteser International visited our house and we were questioned on sanitation facilities. Later I was told that I have been selected to have a latrine which was the happiest news I heard for a long time. I was given priority in construction as we didn't have any kind of latrine. The technical officer of Malteser International told me that there are several types of latrines out of which the best option for our house was an eco-sanitation latrine which is completely a new concept we had not heard of or seen before.

After the survey had been carried out in the area, within one months time construction of the latrine was completed. We were made aware of the operation and maintenance of the latrine. Subsequently awareness on good hygiene practices was also made by Malteser International staff. The series of programs are linked into each other. Malteser International has implemented a very beautiful project in our village.

When the latrine is used either saw dust or ash should be put into the pit. Ash is available in the house and it costs nothing. The operation and maintenance of the latrine is very easy. After using the latrine for about one year we should shift to use the second pit. After resting the first pit for nearly 8 months we could get compost. We have started home gardening with the support of Malteser International. We hope to expand gardening in the near future.

I am not shy to say during rainy seasons when the house gets flooded we stay in the compost latrine for shelter. No defects of the latrine have been  found. The latrine operates well. Some of the beneficiaries who have received compost latrines complain that there's a bad odor from the latrine. I think that it is due to lack of proper maintenance.

Now we know what good hygiene practices are and we are free from diseases. Our villagers are very happy as each villager received a new or upgraded latrine. We should be grateful to Malteser International for giving us a latrine like this. Otherwise constructing a latrine could have remained a dream for poor people like us.  
                                                                                       
Author: Muditha Mataraarachchi - Malteser International WASH Office, Galle. 

Help Us Provide Aid for India's Flood Victims

Intense flooding in India near the Nepal border has created an urgent need for resources. 10,000 to 15,000 families in the district of Basantpur alone are holding out on the remaining dams since nearly three weeks. The expert describes the situation of the survivors as “atrocious”, the people affected by the floods are frustrated: “No help has reached these people up to now, they are living in bare misery under branches of trees and plastic bags. Many of them grieve for family members.” Furthermore, the people in the camp are threatened by the outbreak of diseases. "The water supply is absolutely insufficient. The people are suffering from diarrhea.”

Malteser International will bring water disinfection items, water cans as well as cookware, plastic sheets and tools for the building of emergency shelter to the needy as soon as possible.

For its emergency relief in Bihar, Malteser International urgently calls for donations! You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Order of Malta Worldwide Relief--Malteser International America to support our efforts.