2 Case studies of Community induce planning 1. Climate Resilient Village, Stockdalewath, UK 2. Resolution for Arsenic Contaminated Water. Ballia, Utter Pradesh, India

1. Community Induced Planning for Climate Resilient Village

2. Located in UK
Topography: Valley
Frequent Flooding
Stakeholders: Communities living in low lying areas, Government

3. Property Losses

4. Damaged Infrastucture

5. Connectivity Losses

6. Electricity losses

8. Identification of Roots to cause
Formally constituting groups to protect individuals
Applied for Funding
Prepared property for floods (‘property level flood protection’)
Prepared a community flood plan
Created green space and 'Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems'
(SUDS)

9. Not enough funding, Max. Impact

11. Protection Walls along Valley

13. Increasing Ground Level

14. Installing Flood Gates

18. Community Induced Resolution
for Arsenic Contaminated Water
Ballia Village, Utter Pradesh, India

19. Itchy skin lesions, changes in skin colour, hardening and thickening of skin into nodules – these
were some of the afflictions suffered by the villagers due to arsenic contamination of their drinking
water sources. Gastrointestinal disturbances, chronic cough and shortness of breath added to
their discomfort as well. When this continued for years and affected a majority of residents, the
government swung into action in September 2011.

20. When did Ballia’s problems start?
This story began in 1990, when the
government constructed a large
number of hand pumps throughout
Bihar and UP to provide clean, easy-
to-access water to the villagers. The
ease of using hand pumps won over
the villagers and they began
neglecting the existing open wells.
Little did they realize that they would
pay a large price for this convenience.

21. Suspecting arsenic poisoning, a fairly unknown
subject then, it tested and analysed the village’s
water sources. The report showed that 31
districts of UP had arsenic levels that were
above the safety limit of 10 parts per billion
(ppb) set by World Health Organisation (WHO).
In some areas, the value was nearly 130 times
the prescribed safety limit

22. Alternatives:
• Pipelines
• Overhead Storage Tanks
• Treatment Plants
Failure of Projects:
• High Cost & Maintenance
• It takes Time
• Energy Deficit State

23. When Government Fails, Community takes charge!

24. Cause of contamination
In addition to exploring options on how to remedy this situation, they wanted to understand how this contamination
happened to get to the root of the problem. No gold mines had been discovered in the area that could have leached
this poison into the groundwater since arsenic is a toxic by-product of gold mines. In a typical groundwater table, the
very shallow and very deep aquifers tend to contain lesser arsenic. The middle layer tends to be the most
contaminated.
When the switch over to hand pumps was made, the aquifers were tapped at a depth of 40-60 m leaching out iron
and arsenic. That is what aggravated the problem and led the arsenic to reach the levels that it did.
In Ballia district alone, 38% of the hand pumps tested had a higher arsenic content than the mandatory standards as
per WHO recommendations. The dilemma for people was to find an alternate, sustainable and safe water source.

25. Remedying the situation
One answer was to dig deep tubewells or deep hand pumps that delved into the deeper
uncontaminated aquifers, which could be a source of arsenic-free water but the huge costs
and the long term safety of these sources was debatable. Over consumption or improper
installation would lead to their eventual pollution. So made plan to revive old sources.

26. Today more and
more villagers join
hands to keep their
water sources safe
and hygienic.

27. Now they are healthier, happier and arsenic-free.
Wells that were once an integral part of the village culture,
are slowly regaining their lost value and importance.