“I could not believe my eyes! We were drinking contaminated water every single day after the flood,” says Mary as she looks at the glass in her hand that holds the freshly pumped water after the successful installation of water filtration unit in Jaihind Colony, located in Wayanad district Kerala. For over a month, the residents of Vythri Block were consuming contaminated water as a consequence of the heavy flooding in August this year.

The large-scale water logging lead to the contamination of water in dug wells, thus making it unsuitable for consumption.

During this dark period the community was heavily dependent packaged drinking water to meet their daily water requirements. However, this alternative was not only impractical but also short lived as local NGOs began to withdraw their support as the waters receded. This inadequacy in the supply of alternative sources of water left them with no choice but to consume contaminated water, putting them at serious risk of contracting waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery which can be fatal if not treated immediately. This was especially alarming in children, as there were several reports of diarrhoea when Caritas India team was assessing the situation.

There was an immediate need for safe drinking water to prevent diseases from spreading and thus reduce mortality rates in the flood affected Wythri. Caritas India with the support of SIEMENS was determined to deliver safe drinking water to these communities, and thus undertook the cleaning of 5 dug wells and install electric pump-operated water filtration units for easy accessibility of the elderly, pregnant women and persons living with disability. Five hamlets of the projected worst affected villages in Wythri namely; KunnathEdavaka, Chundel, Achuranam, Pozhuthana, Thrikkaipatta, and Kottapadi were selected based on priority needs.

First the wells were thoroughly cleaned before the installation of the Aquaplus AP 700CL LPH Motor operated Water Filtration System was installed. These systems are powered by and electric motor, and discharge 700-1000 litres of water per hour. The output water conforms to the Sphere Standards of safe drinking water.

At the village-level a committee has been set up in each of the five hamlets, and will now be functional to take care of the maintenance of these units. This committee is comprised of 12 members including men, women and youth.

As the community gathered around the well to drink the freshly pumped out water from the well in Thrikkaipetta Village, Ms. Sini exclaimed, “from now onwards, the health of the people in this colony will be as clear as this water.” Ms. Pathumma, a resident of Kunnathidavaka revealed, “After our river and well got contaminated, this is the first time I am drinking pure water from our own soil. I cant belive it.”

Caritas India carrying out its relief support in the flood affected victims of Kerala by supplying food, non-food and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) kits. Caritas response teams is reaching the most isolated areas where the poorest and most vulnerable Dalit and tribal people live.

In Alleppey, Kottayam and Wayanad districts, 17,991 families were supported with food, non-food and WaSH kits. In the next phase, another flood affected 14,500 families will be supported in Kerala.