9. Social and institutional aspects

It is important that communities are educated and engaged at local level in mitigating the effects of arsenic contamination. Mass media need accurate information to publicise problems and solutions, and to generate action rather than alarm. In rural areas, radio can play an important role in public information and education, as can local popular media, such as folk theatre, especially when linked to group discussion.

Any public awareness campaign, national, regional or local, should reflect the different roles and responsibilities that women and men have in the provision of domestic water and take into account differences in access to various media. Meetings to raise awareness and plan local action may need to make special arrangements to ensure that the voices of women and men are heard.

People in communities must familiarise themselves with options for switching to arsenic free water. There are three options:

Sharing arsenic free sources. In most communities, not every drinking water source is affected, so that water for drinking and cooking can be taken from a shared unaffected source. Rules may be needed about who can draw how much water, and when, and about sharing costs. Gender, ethnicity and class issues all need to be addressed. Participatory tools and techniques and the choice of a mediator in case of problems, are helpful. The TOP outlines a couple of tools that can be used in community group meetings for social mapping and for discussing the sources and consequences of arsenic poisoning.

Solutions based on sharing may prove only temporary if an arsenic-free source becomes contaminated, or population growth puts unsustainable pressure on unpolluted sources.

Point-of-use household removal systems are a second possibility. Men and women need to observe demonstrations of systems and to receive training until proper use becomes routine. Arrangements for microcredit schemes may be needed.

A treatment plant at community level can deliver arsenic-free water to a large number of households. This is suitable where there is a clear sense of community and experience with community processes.

Institutional aspects

Informed choice implies good quality information, communication and decision-making processes. There is a need for experienced female and male facilitators who know how to use participatory techniques and who are well-versed in the technology.

For a communal system, users have to choose a local management committee. Visualising the workload can help participants make good decisions so that committee members represent both sexes and different groups and so that committee members are held accountable.

Operators and committee members need training, and should play a central role in communicating and discussing proposals with user groups, and in implementing schemes. Communities will continue to need periodic back-up after training.