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Even though adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic requirement for all human beings

on the earth, it has been observed that millions of people worldwide are deprived of this. Rapid industrial growth, urbanization and the increasing use of synthetic organic substances have very serious and adverse impacts on fresh water bodies. When toxic substances enter rivers, lakes, oceans, streams or other water bodies, they get dissolved or lie suspended in water or get deposited on the bed. This results in the pollution of water whereby the quality of the water deteriorates, affecting aquatic ecosystems. Pollutants can also seep down and affect the groundwater deposits. Water borne diseases and water caused health problems are mostly due to inadequate and incompetent planning and management of water resources. In the urban areas water gets contaminated in many different ways, some of the most common reasons being leaky water pipe joints in areas where the water pipe and sewage line pass close together. Sometimes the water also gets polluted at source due to various reasons and mainly due to inflow of sewage and other industrial and animal wastes into the source. In India, several schemes for the supply of clean drinking water to people were implemented by various agencies including Government. Even though the local bodies and other authorities are supplying tap water collecting hefty sums towards water charges from the consumers, the consumers have no means to ensure whether the water they consume is clean and safe. Different studies reveal that several tap water samples tested were contaminated. The tap water may contain both chemical and biological contaminants which may result in dreaded diseases like hepatitis, jaundice, diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, etc. It will not be possible for the consumers to check the quality of water every time they consume it. Considering the general situation prevailing in India, the possibility of the consumer's complaints in this regard getting resolved by the Government or other authorities is very limited. In view of the above mentioned facts several consumers are now shifting to bottled drinking water. Here again the consumers are in the dark about the quality of the product, i.e., whether it is clean and safe drinking water. Many studies show that there is no guarantee as to what is in that bottle. In many cases contaminants were found on testing. Given the multiple causes of contamination, experts agree that the most efficient way of ensuring safe drinking water is to purify water at the point of use. Here comes the role of water purifiers. Several brands of water purifiers are now available in the market in India. Major brands available in India include Hindustan Unilever, Eureka Forbes, Philips, Whirlpool, Kent, etc. Different companies are using various technologies such as UV purification, reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtering, distillation, ion exchange, electro deionization, etc. for purification of water. The cost of the product will vary according to the technology used in it. Most of the models available in the market are very costly which the common man cannot afford. However, certain low cost water purifiers such as that of Hindustan Uniliver, Tata Chemicals, Eureka Forbes, etc are now available in the market. One important feature of the low cost model is that no electricity is required and hence electricity bills will not be a problem for the consumers. These models are very user friendly allowing the customers to install or service the devices themselves. Hindustan Uniliver`s Pureit having a capacity of 18 litres is priced at INR2000. The Company claims that their product meets the stringent international criteria for microbiologically safe drinking water. It is also claimed that pureit water costs only 25 paise per litre and cost of pureit water with purifier cost

will come to only 35 paise per litre. Uniliver has also launched Pureit Compact which is priced at INR1000. Eureka Forbes` Aquasure is priced around INR2000. Recently Tata Chemicals has unveiled two new variants of its low cost water purifier, Swach aimed at providing safe drinking water to every Indian household. Swach Smart and Swach Smart Magic are priced at INR749 and INR499. The Company claims that the product is a perfect confluence of technology and versatility and would make safe drinking water now accessible to far greater number of people across the country. They also claim that using the power of Nanotechnology combined with natural ingredients; it delivers safe drinking water at a benchmark price of Re.1 for a family of five. The quality of drinking water has a huge effect on your health and only you are responsible for ensuring it. Hence investing a few bucks in home water purification system that fits into your pocket will never be a bad investment.

Safe drinking water is the fundamental for human survival and is a basic human right. In Pakistan, only about 60% of the urban population is provided water by the municipal authorities with no standard both in term of regularity as well as safety. The water being supplied is mostly un-safe for human consumption causing widespread water borne diseases. Mostly rural population is excluded from water supply system; they rely on their own sources which are never tested for safety. Contamination of ground water due to poor sanitation, salinity, excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers expose them to great health risk. Drinking Water and Health Unsafe drinking water has been established as a source of many diseases, and is responsible for 40% of all communicable diseases in Pakistan . The most common water born disease is gastroenteritis, diarrhea, typhoid, giardiasis and intestinal worms. Other diseases which occur due to unavailability of water are trachoma and scabies. Women and children are the worst effectees of poor quality and quantity of water, as women in the remote rural areas bear the burden of carrying water from far off places and are also responsible for managing water at home; children are physically weak and more prone to water born diseases, more so because of the prevailing malnutrition and lack of immunity. Piped and Ground Water Governments Responsibility. Drinking water is a public utility and governments are primarily responsible for the provision of safe drinking water to the public as a basic need to sustain life. Drinking water supply is a provision subject in Pakistan implemented through district governments. Water supply is the responsibility of local government and the public health engineering department. Local Government Ordinance. 2001 makes the local governments responsible for supply of whole some water, sufficient for public and private purposes. There is no comprehensive policy at the federal or provincial levels for this important utility affecting health and daily life of consumer. Drinking Water Quality Standards. Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has issued Drinking Water Standards (PS1932-2002) in 2002 for piped water which are voluntary, whereas PSQCA bottled water standards (PS-4639-2002) are mandatory in nature. It deprives almost 30-40% of the population (served through piped water) of safety measures. Consumer drawing water from under ground sources, mostly in rural areas, are in state of jeopardy as there is no system to ascertain quality of drinking water they use. Bone deformity is a case in point in Kalanwala, Distt Qasur, Punjab caused by high fluoride ground water being used over years. The Networks Water Project The Network for Consumer Protection is a not for profit advocacy organization working to safeguard consumers interest in Pakistan. Drinking water, a very important determinant of health, is one of the Advocacy & Research projects of The Network. The water project works for the universal access to safe drinking water for consumers. The project undertakes research and advocacy for pro-consumer policies on provision of safe drinking water to the consumers.

Specific

Project

Activities

National drinking water policy There is an obvious need to develop a national drinking water policy outlining national needs, targets, standards and systems for supply of safe drinking water to consumers. Such a policy shall provide direction to and strengthen local governments to perform their work for supply of drinking water. The policy should also address the problems faced by the rural consumers. Working with local governments for supply of safe drinking water. The Network conducts research and provides technical assistance to local governments for supply of safe drinking water to consumers. TheNetwork also facilitates the local governments in consumers awareness raising about quality of water and water conservation. Promulgation of minimal mandatory standards for piped water. The project advocates for mandatory standards for piped water consumers health. The standardization helps local government to streamline their water policy operation to deliver safe water to consumers and will also help consumers and their groups to monitor the water quality being supplied. Raising consumer awareness about safe drinking water. Through public media and its own publications, the water project educates consumers on safety and conversation of drinking water, the project raises consumers support for this important public health matter. Research on cost effective solutions for safe drinking water both at public and domestic levels. The water project conducts research on possible solutions to make drinking water safe both at public and domestic level. Keeping in view the scarcity of resources both for domestic consumer and public sector cost effectives are the central part of our research. The project also works out innovative models to make water safe for drinking. Charter of Demands

Develop and adopt a comprehensive national drinking water policy. Promulgate minimum standards for supply of safe drinking water. Ensure universal access to safe drinking water as peoples right irrespective of their income level. Ensure consumers participation in matter related to water bills. Develop and ensure implementation of monitoring system for peoples access to safe drinking water Recognize safe drinking water as a public health matter, at a national level and translate it into policies and action by involving public health professionals in matter related to drinking water management. Implementation environmental standards to conserve water, a precious and threatened natural resource.

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