Access to protected source of drinking water has improved dramatically over the years. Most rural water supply systems are using surface and ground water as source for drinking. But inadequate maintenance and neglect of the environment around water sources has led to increasing levels of water pollution. In many areas, the problem is
exacerbating by falling levels of groundwater, mainly caused by increasing extraction for irrigation. Many areas of groundwater and surface water are now contaminated with heavy metals, POPs (persistent organic pollutants), and chemicals that have an adverse affect on health. Water-borne diseases and water-caused health problems are mostly due to inadequate and mismanagement of water resources. Safe water for all can be assured only when access, sustainability, and equity are guaranteed. Access counts on the number of people who are guaranteed with sufficient quantity of safe drinking water. There has to be an effort to sustain it, and there has to be a fair and equal distribution of water to all segments of the society. Urban areas generally have a higher coverage of safe water than the rural areas. Even within an area there is variation; areas that can pay for the services have access to safe water whereas areas that cannot pay for the services have to live with water from hand pumps and other sources.
The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of all sickness in the world is attributable to unsafe water and sanitation. Water-borne diseases kill 3.4 million people, mostly children, annually. Millions more are sickened with diarrhea, malaria, schistosomiasis, arsenic poisoning, trachoma, and hepatitis—diseases that are preventable by access to clean water and health care information. The provision of safe water alone will reduce diarrhoeal and enteric disease by up to 50%, even in the absence of improved sanitation or other hygiene measures.
Despite the government and UNICEF’s best efforts, diarrhea remains the major cause of death amongst children, after respiratory tract infections. In some parts of India, excessive arsenic and fluoride in drinking water also pose a major health threat. In addition, the disease caused by contaminated water remains one of the major causes of considerable expenses in house holds.
Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread primarily through contaminated water. Though these diseases are spread either directly or through flies or filth, water is the chief medium for spread of these diseases and hence they are termed as water-borne diseases.
WHO says that the provision of safe water alone will reduce diarrhoeal and enteric disease by up to 50%, even in the absence of improved sanitation or other hygiene measures. WHO further asserts that there is now conclusive evidence that is simple, acceptable, low cost interventions which are capable of eliminating viruses, bacteria and parasites from household stored water, can reduce the risks of diarrhoeal disease for people of all ages in both the developed and developing countries.
Vayalagam Tankfed Agriculture Development Programme
Access to protected source of drinking water has improved dramatically over the years. Most rural water supply systems are using surface and ground water as source for drinking. But inadequate maintenance and neglect of the environment around water sources has led to increasing levels of water pollution. In many areas, the problem is
exacerbating by falling levels of groundwater, mainly caused by increasing extraction for irrigation. Many areas of groundwater and surface water are now contaminated with heavy metals, POPs (persistent organic pollutants), and chemicals that have an adverse affect on health. Water-borne diseases and water-caused health problems are mostly due to inadequate and mismanagement of water resources. Safe water for all can be assured only when access, sustainability, and equity are guaranteed. Access counts on the number of people who are guaranteed with sufficient quantity of safe drinking water. There has to be an effort to sustain it, and there has to be a fair and equal distribution of water to all segments of the society. Urban areas generally have a higher coverage of safe water than the rural areas. Even within an area there is variation; areas that can pay for the services have access to safe water whereas areas that cannot pay for the services have to live with water from hand pumps and other sources. 
The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of all sickness in the world is attributable to unsafe water and sanitation. Water-borne diseases kill 3.4 million people, mostly children, annually. Millions more are sickened with diarrhea, malaria, schistosomiasis, arsenic poisoning, trachoma, and hepatitis—diseases that are preventable by access to clean water and health care information. The provision of safe water alone will reduce diarrhoeal and enteric disease by up to 50%, even in the absence of improved sanitation or other hygiene measures. 
Despite the government and UNICEF’s best efforts, diarrhea remains the major cause of death amongst children, after respiratory tract infections. In some parts of India, excessive arsenic and fluoride in drinking water also pose a major health threat. In addition, the disease caused by contaminated water remains one of the major causes of considerable expenses in house holds.
Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread primarily through contaminated water. Though these diseases are spread either directly or through flies or filth, water is the chief medium for spread of these diseases and hence they are termed as water-borne diseases.
WHO says that the provision of safe water alone will reduce diarrhoeal and enteric disease by up to 50%, even in the absence of improved sanitation or other hygiene measures. WHO further asserts that there is now conclusive evidence that is simple, acceptable, low cost interventions which are capable of eliminating viruses, bacteria and parasites from household stored water, can reduce the risks of diarrhoeal disease for people of all ages in both the developed and developing countries.
© Copyright DHAN Foundation 2006.