Calcutta Rescue has moved into the field of arsenic mitigation in response to the current crisis whereby, as a result of a drop in the water table, the drinking water supply for millions of people in West Bengal has become contaminated with arsenic, a naturally-occurring and very toxic substance. Efforts are being made by the State to assess the number of people with arsenicosis as a result of drinking this water. Some of the effects of arsenic poisoning are long term and symptoms include skin and internal cancers, liver damage, skin lesions, hypertension as well as cardiovascular, pulmonary and peripheral vascular problems. It is the poor and marginalized, unable to access an alternative water supply or afford to buy clean drinking water, who are most affected.
Rather than only treat the symptoms of arsenicosis once they appear, CR decided to tackle the cause by treating the water at source. In August 2003, CR started a pilot water filtration project - installing 4 filters and tubewells in the Malda area that lies some 300 km north of Kolkata. Extensive research (water quality and quantity, robustness, operational ease and safety, reliability, ecological effects of use, convenience, social acceptability, stability of the company, etc.) was carried out before committing to the project. With the support of the Panchayat Raj (the village council) and local organizations, CR has trained the local villagers regarding the proper use and maintenance of the devices to ensure their long-term sustainability.
The existing filters are currently providing in excess of 10,000 litres of uncontaminated drinking water per day. This year CR has secured additional funding to install a further 4 filters. We are proposing to facilitate access to arsenic free drinking water by informing the local population about simple and easily replicable methods used to remove arsenic. In addition, a behaviour change communication programme is in place to motivate target groups to adopt basic preventative general health measures.
We are monitoring this project and working closely with local people to ensure compliance and ownership of this scheme.
Make a donation to the Arsenic Mitigation Project
