Water & Sanitation

DGVS seeks to improve access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere. We started in 1986 and were determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. Only by tackling these three essentials, in ways that last, can people change their lives for good. For every social objective, community participation is a must. We engage with the communities to ensure that they not only have 100% buy-in but actually become the drivers of change. People’s participation is the cornerstone of our motive. Many villages have access to only highly polluted drinking waters as their underground water tables has been contaminated by the polluted rivers, agricultural chemical run off and dumping of wastes in water resources. These have given birth to water borne diseases in the villages also hindering proper development in next generations. Detailed village studies conducted by the organization have put these results forward.

DGVS has worked with world bank and Government of India on various water projects

  • SWAJAL PROJECT: The Swajal Project has two main development objectives: (a) to deliver sustainable health and hygiene benefits to the rural population through improvements in water supply and environmental sanitation services and (b) to promote the long-term sustainability of the rural water supply and sanitation sector by providing assistance to the government of UP to identify and

implement an appropriate policy framework and strategic plan. The Swajal project also aims to test and validate an alternative service delivery mechanism in order to scale-up. Through the promotion of a demand-responsive approach in collaboration with NGOs, the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to plan, implement and maintain their water supply and sanitation schemes. In the process, local ownership would be increased and management and decision making capacity at the grassroots level would be strengthened. The rural water supply (WS) provides choices to consumers in terms of type of technology and service level. For WS in the hills, this includes piped water supply schemes, captured springs with hand-pumps, rainwater harvesting and spring development (including combinations of technologies most suited to local conditions). In the Bundelkhand region and foothills, and hand-pumps. In Bundelkhand region the availability of safe drinking water is a big challenge for the rural masses, to ensure the safe drinking water supply and environmental sanitation in the 3 villages of Maudaha Block DGVS, contracted for the Implementation of the programme. The organization successfully completed the assignment and established the piped water supply system and ESR

We will not stop. Not until clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.

Clean water

Today, we reel under the worst water crisis ever. We work towards solutions with communities that last a lifetime and beyond.

Decent toilets

Without decent toilets, diseases spread fast and dignity is compromised. We spread awareness to generate demand for toilets and train communities for long-lasting impact.

Good hygiene

Good hygiene practice is one of the most effective ways to safeguard health. We promote it amongst children and adults, starting with the simple act of handwashing.

In order to attain this goal, DGVS has defined eight specific targets for 2030:

  • Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
  • Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
  • Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
  • Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from it.
  • Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transnational cooperation as appropriate.
  • Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
  • Expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.
  • Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.