VISTAS Vol. 7, No. 1, 2018, pp. 129-134 ISSN: 2319-5770, e-ISSN 2394-1138

‘SAFE DRINKING WATER’- AN ANALYSIS OF MUNCIPALITY Steffy Joseph Pereira* *Department of Economics, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous) Irinjalakuda, 680121, , . ABSTRACT Water is the natural resources without which any living things cannot survive. Its necessity is for various purposes for human life and without it people cannot live a single moment. The geochemical positions of an area also determine the presence of various chemical present in drinking and other types of water in a locality. Even though Kerala receives 3000 mm of annual rainfall, availability of safe drinking water is a problem, especially in summer. Kerala gets average 3000 mm of rain per year but still there is water scarcity. Water scarcity is caused by population growth, environmental change and degradation and unequal distribution of water resources. Water is getting scarce due to rising of population, rapid urbanization and growing industrial demands. In this context, the present study is an attempt to analysis the safe drinking water in Irinjalakuda municipality by taking 50 households as sample. The study also aims to analyses a socio-economic status of the respondents under the study area and also to examine the availability and utilization of safe drinking water by the sample respondents and also to examine the water related health problems among the respondents.

INTRODUCTION Water is important to all living organisms, most ecological systems, human health, food production and economic development. The safety of drinking water is an on-going concern within the global village. Although nearly 70% of the earth is made up of water, there is only a limited amount of clean water available for our use. While there is a high percentage of water on Earth’s surface, this number is deceiving as much of the water is not accessible; while there may be an abundance of water on Earth, that which is accessible and available for human use is scarce, of all the water on our planet, “97.5% of it is salt water, virtually useless for most human needs”.

Currently, about 20% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, and more than 5 million people die annually from illness associated with safe drinking water or inadequate sanitation. With an expanding population and increasing demand, the need for clean water is a growing issue in our world today. Water is a basic need for life, from agriculture while the need is equal; access to clean water is far from equal. Nearly 2.5 billion people, almost 50% of the developing world’s population, lacking adequate access to clean water.

Drinking water also known as potable water or improved drinking water is water safe enough for drinking and food preparation. Water is essential for life. The amount of drinking water required is variable. It depends on physical activity, age, health issues, and environmental conditions. Globally, in 2012, 89% of people had access to water suitable for drinking. Nearly 4 billion had access to wells or public taps. 1.8 billion People still use an unsafe drinking water source. 130 ● ISSN: 2319-5770 e-ISSN 2394-1138

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Safe drinking water is essential to humans and other life forms even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients. Drinking water is a big problem in coming to the near in every living things. After some years drinking water would become the big crisis of human being. Therefore, there should be a dire need to tackle the problems of drinking water shortage. Even though there are many facilities getting water is not easy one. It is being a problem in our day- to-day life due to increasing population, growth of large industrial houses etc.

One article was able to sum up the importance of the safe drinking water as “One thing will never change: people need water for survival” (Napier 30). Water is life; it is a necessity that cannot be substituted by anything. Water Availability and Accessibility As our world is already facing a shortage of clean water around the globe, it is expected to only get worse with population growth and an increase in demand unless something is done. In a recent study by the International Water Management Institute it was shown that an estimated 1.2 billion people on Earth “live in areas experiencing ‘physical water scarcity,’ or insufficient supplies for everyone’s demands …Another 1 billion face ;economic scarcity’ in which ‘human capacity or financial resources’ cannot provide adequate water.”

The amount of water available per person in India has decreased steadily. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, it is expected to decrease further in 2050. India already faces an alarming situation. Its fragile water resources are stressed and depleting while various sectorial demands are growing rapidly even as about 200 million people in the country do not have access to safe drinking water. Due to these reasons it is interesting to analyses the safe drinking water of Irinjalakuda municipality by stressing the water availability and utilization considering the health problems of people in the study area.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study are the following:

1. To analyses the socio-economic status of the sample households of Irinjalakuda municipality. 2. To examine the availability and utilization of safe drinking water by the sample respondents. 3. To assess the water related health problems of sample families.

METHODOLOGY The validity of any research is based on the systematic method of data collection and analysis. The present study is based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data are collected from the 50 households from 21st ward of Irinjalakuda Municipality. The households selected randomly and conducted survey to collect the data. And the details were tabulated and consolidated for analysis. The secondary data are collected from economic reviews, Kerala Development Report, Economic and political weekly, Census of India 2011, Kerala water authority reports, articles, VISTAS Vol. 6, No. 1 ● 131 bulletins related to natural resources were used to analysis the major objectives with the help of percentage methods, graphs and diagrams.

DATA ANALYSIS Table 1: Size of the family of sample population

Nature of family consists of joint family and nuclear family. In this sample population number of nuclear families is more. The following table illustrated the nature of family

Size of family Number of Households Percentage

Joint family 8 16

Nuclear family 42 84

Total 50 100

Source: Field survey

Table2: Classification on sample respondents based on income level.

The economic status of family income. The sample beneficiary households are classified on the basis of monthly income.

Monthly income Number of persons Percentage

Below 5000 33 66

5000-10000 6 12

10000-15000 4 8

15000-20000 6 12

Above 20000 1 2

Total 50 100

Source: Field survey

Table 3 (a) providers of water resources

Authorities Number of Households percentage

Govt water Authority 50 100

CBO/NGO Nil Nil

Private operator Nil Nil

Others Nil Nil

Total Nil Nil 132 ● ISSN: 2319-5770 e-ISSN 2394-1138

Source: Field survey

Table 3 (b) Daily water consumption

Daily use of water (in Number of households Percentage Lts)

Below- 200lts 15 30

200 - 400lts 17 34

400 - 600lts 9 18

600 - 800lts 6 12

800 - 1000lts 2 4

Above 1000lts 1 2

Total 50 100

Source: field survey

Table 4 (a) water related diseases among the sample respondents

Series No: Number of respondents percentage

Water-borne diseases Nil Nil

Vector-borne diseases Nil Nil

No diseases 50 100

Total 50 100

Source: field survey

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY The major findings emerged from the study on safe drinking water in Irinjalakuda municipality were as follows: -

❖ Regarding the socio-economic profile, it is found out that 40% of the respondents belonged to the group above 60 years and 12% of the respondents belonged to below 30 years. About14% of the respondents belongs to 30-40 years and 20% of respondents belong to 40-50 years and 14% of respondents belong to 50-60 years.

❖ 32% of the number of respondents are males and while 68% of respondents are females.

❖ Out of the sample households 42 were nuclear families and 8were joint families.

❖ It was clear from the study that 66% persons gets monthly income below 5000 Rs., and only 8%persons get income between Rs 10000-15000 and about 2% VISTAS Vol. 6, No. 1 ● 133

persons income level was above20000 and 12% of families had an income level in between Rs 5000-10000.

❖ The economic status of sample respondents revealed that there were 14% of APL families and 86% of the BPL families.

❖ Educational status of respondents showed that 64% belongs to the group below SSLC, 18% have SSLC and14% belongs to pre degree level and 4% were degree holders. There was no single post graduate.

❖ Majority of the respondents nearly 56% are Hindus, 38% of the respondents are Christians and 6% of the respondents are Muslims.

❖ Marital status shows that unmarried number of respondents is 4%, 70% of the respondents are married and 26% of the respondents are widows.

❖ Occupational status shows that 74% respondents are manual labour, 2% are business workers and only 12% are private workers and about 12% are employed in government services

❖ From our study it was focused that about 86% of the respondents had their own houses and almost 4% lived in rent houses.

❖ Major findings related to the second objective, i.e., the availability and utilization of water sources from Irinjalakuda water authority was that 80% of the sample households depends on the pipe line connection and 12% households depends on public taps. 6 % of the households depend on public well and the remaining depends on other sources.

❖ From the study it was clear that the water authority provided 100%water sources for sample households

❖ Water availability of respondents showed that there were 34% of the respondents used water daily in between 200-400Ltrs and 2% of the respondents used water daily above 1000Ltrs and 64% of the respondent’s daily usage of water was below 200 LTRS.

❖ 70 % of respondents opined that the water provided by the water authority is good in quality and the remaining 30% of households is not satisfied with the quality of the water.

❖ Purpose of utilization of water showed that the 100% of sample respondents used water for domestic purposes. And not for non- domestic purposes.

❖ Regarding the cost of water consumption, the details revealed that 26% of households paid Rs50-100 per month and about 24% of the number of households paid in between Rs200-300 in water consumption per month.

❖ From the study it was found out that water charge is paid on the basis of consumption of water per liter under the study area. 134 ● ISSN: 2319-5770 e-ISSN 2394-1138

❖ From the study it was understood that no families receive water in every day. 5families receive water on alternative days. 38 families receive water in 2 days intervals.

❖ Out of 50 sample families 45 families have access to drinking water during summer season whereas 5families do not receive drinking water in peak summer season.

❖ Regarding the health problems of respondents, 100% of the respondents have no water related diseases.

❖ From the study, the medical expenses due to water related diseases showed that t 100% of the respondents have no medical expenses for water related diseases like cholera, malaria, etc.

CONCLUSION The study on safe drinking water in Irinjalakuda municipality contributes valuable information about safe drinking water in Irinjalakuda Municipality by conducting a survey of 50 sample households of ward 21. 90 % of respondents have access to safe drinking water and there is no water scarcity felt during summer season. The main providers of Water sources are the government water authority. And the quality of water provided is good. And there is no serious water related health problems among the sample respondent.

SUGGESTIONS The provision for safe drinking water can be improved, if there is an opportunity for rain water harvesting. The majority of the people depend on the pipe connection and there is no availability for tanker lorry facilities KWA.

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