Sanitation

Since its foundation in 1968, the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) has facilitated the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge so that governments, professionals and organisations can better sup

Parineeta Dandekar spent some time to find resources on the web for people involved in relief efforts in flood situations.The following provides a concise look at precautions, useful resources and general tips regarding drinking water, sanitation, relief measures in the flood affected regions. Water and Sanitation during floods: Some resources for relief workers and flood affected population With more than 300,000 people in relief camps and two mega relief camps planned in Bihar, consideration of issues related to water and sanitation is urgent. Epidemics and water borne diseases can spread rapidly and easily in the present situation.The information below is collected from various sources and aims to help of flood affected population, people in relief camps, volunteers, relief workers working in Bihar. Relief and aid workers should take the necessary precautions to assure their health and safety while working on rescue and clean up procedures. While conducting rescue and clean up operations, it should be assumed that the all surfaces have been contaminated with disease-causing organisms. This important assumption must be considered in decisions involving personal safety of rescue and cleanup personnel . ( for more information, please see here) Personal Protection Measures ( For more information, please see here)

Download the resource document as a doc file: Water & Sanitation for the Flood Affected

One in four girls does not complete primary school - compared to one in seven boys - and the lack of proper sanitation is partially to blame.

Water conservation is an important part of responsible living. Water is a precious resource which is not to be squandered. Fortunately, there are a number of really easy ways to save water without a whole lot of hassle, and some of the best are listed here!

In the Kitchen Cut down on water usage in your kitchen using these methods. 1. Wash only on a full load: This is true for both washers and dishwashers. By washing in bulk, you'll cut down on the number of cycles you need to run. Also important to keep in mind is the fact that most dishwashers on a full load can clean dishes more efficiently than a hand wash. 2. Cut down on your disposal: Instead of using your disposal, start a compost pile for food waste. 3. Buy foods close to their natural form: Water is needed to produce just about everything from Coke to boxed mashed potatoes. You can cut down on your water consumption by avoiding processed foods that require lots of water to make. {C}

Would you throw your lot in with cloud seeding, or have ideas regarding conservation and regulated usage? Feel free to join in and have your say, access the Drought Mitigation Discussion here

We at the Water Portal, came up with some questions to ask the builder when you are buying an apartment. The more educated you are regarding the way the apartment is handling water, the better decision you are likely to make and one that will benefit you immensely in the long term.

Subject: Ecosan

Duration: 1:20 mins

These trucks with a built in pump suck out septic tanks and pit latrines for a fee of Rs 1300/- ( 33 US $). They do the job cleanly and in 15 minutes. The waste is then deposited at a sewage treatment plant or for farmers to compost and use as fertilizer. A protocol for safe handling of the manure needs to be quickly developed as well as to tell farmers how much manure to use.

A National Consultation Meet was organized by WaterAid towards developing a Citizens Report on Water and Sanitation in India was held on the 12th January 2008 at New Delhi.

A quick introduction to Ecosan

Eco-san in a city