Resources: Water & sanitation for the flood affected

Parineeta Dandekar

Water and Sanitation during floods: Some resources for relief workers and flood affected population

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1. Be very cautious while entering in a water current more than knee high. If entering flowing flood waters is essential, make sure that there is someone on the shore a a lookout for you.
2. Driving car on flooded roads is dangerous. Water as shallow as two feet can wash away a car.
3. Only individuals necessary for rescue operations and cleanup should be in affected areas. Persons with respiratory health problems (e.g., asthma, emphysema) should not perform the clean up.
4. Whenever possible, boots and rubber gloves should be worn . In cases where rigorous splashing of contaminated water may occur, a dust mask and eye protection should also be worn.
5. Stay well clear of any downed or damaged power lines. Establish a safe distance from the lines and report the incident to the responsible authority.
6. Do not smoke, eat or drink during clean up operations.
7. A tetanus booster is recommended every 10 years. If you are in need of a tetanus immunization, contact the medical officer in the relief camp.
8. Flood waters may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems, and agricultural and industrial byproducts. If you have any open cuts or sores that will be exposed to flood water, keep them as clean as possible by washing well with soap to control infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.
9. Do not allow children play in flood waters.
10.  See to it that stale food is not served at the camps.
11. Col. Marathe from the Disaster Management Cell , Yashada, Pune, stressed the importance of keeping an anti-venom kit at hand for all the relief workers. Snake bite is a common phenomenon in floods and the best time saver is the use of a truncate above the bite, before getting immediate medical assistance. He has further advised not to cut or try and suck blood out, as these may have dangerous consequences.
12. Before embarking on rescue or clean up operations, do not forget to carry an emergency kit consisting of a portable radio, spare batteries, a torch, food like biscuits/energy bars/gur and a bottle of drinking water.

Drinking Water:

Minimum drinking water requirement per person per day is 5 litres. Daily activities like cooking, toilet use, hand washing etc. require a minimum of 20 litres of water. This means that we will have to make provision for at least about 60,00,000 litres safe drinking water daily to the relief camps. Considering the the entire state is reeling under the crisis, this is a herculean task to manage. The situation highlights the importance of point of use treatments like bleach, alum, etc. The treatment should be cost effective and fast.

1)Using Sodium Hypochlorite ( bleach).

Some tips for using Bleach:

• To treat clear drinking water:

Use about 1/8 teaspoons bleach ( approximately 0.75 ml ) for 1 gallon ( nearly 4 litres of water. Let the water stand for 30 minutes before using it.

•  In case of cloudy drinking water, add ¼ teaspoon bleach per I gallon ( approximately 4 litres) and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.

In case of water containers and cans to store water:

1. Mix soap and clean water in container.
2. Shake or stir to clean inside of container.
3. Rinse container.
4. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) bleach per 1 cup (240 mL) water and pour it in the container.
5. Cover the container and shake so the solution touches all inside surfaces.
6. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
7. Rinse with clean water It is advised that the containers should be cleaned and disinfected every alternate day.

Some suggestions made through UN Solutions Exchange team were as follows: ( For very useful details and contacts, please see here)

NaDCC

Tablets: Available at Water Chem Laboratories,

Produces NaDCC tablets, 33 mg tables can purify approximately 20 litres of non-turbid water, used by the Assam Public Health and Engineering Department

Sinking Handpumps

Saree Method

PUR(R) Purifier of Water:

Sanitation:

Choice of toilets : Some Options:

Some Important Contacts:

• WaterAid India  Regional Office North 2/203, Vishal Khand, Gomti nagar, Lucknow - 226010. Ph: +91 522 - 4065412\13 Email: wairon@wateraid.org

• Ministry of Home Affairs Disaster Management Division  North Block, New Delhi mha Control Room Tel. No.23092923, 23093054, 23092885, 23093897 Fax No.23093750, 23092763

• Disaster Management Division, Bihar  Sri R. K. Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary.Tel: 2205399 (R). Mobile: 94310-19099 Sri Pratyaya Amrit, IAS, Additional CommissionerTel: 2222456 (R). Mobile: 94318-15833. Sri P. N. Rai, IPS, Special Secretary.Tel: 2205455 (R). Mobile: 94310-11283

• National Institute of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home Affairs)  I.P. Estate, Ring Roadsz New Delhi - 110002 (INDIA) Tele : 91 -11-23702432/23705583/23766146 Tele Fax : 91-11-23702442/23702446 Email : institute.nidm@nidm.net

• Center for Disaster Management, YASHADA, Pune  Phone Number: 91-20-5608000 Col. Marathe:0-9850125736

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