As soon as practicable, identify host national standards for water and sanitation and use them as minimums.  In some instances, SPHERE or other accepted international standards (such as WHO water quality standards) may be more stringent than host national standards.  In these cases, the higher standard will be the goal while the national standard will be the minimum.

With regards to minimum levels of service, the key point to keep in mind is that any intervention must be environmentally sustainable.  While we should always endeavor to be cost-efficient (cheap is good), site conditions may not make this practical.  It is important to realize this as early in the project development process as possible, as the budget ramifications may affect the feasibility (and/or scope) of the project.

4. Water Quality Monitoring

If your project objectives include water quality indicators, a water quality monitoring program must be also be developed.  The WHO "Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2^nd Edition, Volume 3 – Surveillance and control of community supplies” is a good basic reference text for international water quality monitoring programs.  The link for this document is: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq2v1/en/index2.html.

The Delagua water testing kit (http://www.delagua.org/) is designed to help provide information about the safety of water supplies in difficult situations or remote areas where laboratory facilities do not exist. The DelAgua kit is designed to carry out five basic tests to measure the quality of drinking-water: microbiological quality, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine and pH.  The following items need to be purchased locally in order for the kits to be used:  methanol, wax pencils, distilled water, portable sterilizer (autoclave, pressure cooker), lighter, and cold box(es) for collected samples.  While in storage, test kit batteries need to be recharged at least once per month.

Field test kits can also be purchased for other parameters of concern.  The Hach Company has a good primer for establishing laboratory quality control on their website: http://www.hach.com/fmmimghach?/CODE:L2426538|1//true

Suggestions for water quality monitoring:

1. Source selection: Coliform bacteria (SPHERE standard is based on fecal coliforms, not bacteria reacting to H2S test), turbidity, pH, iron, nitrates, (arsenic if suspected in area) for potential and existing sources as part of community environmental health assessment
2. Trucked water distribution points: Chlorine residual, pH (H2S test if chlorine residual less than 0.2 mg/l) at time of delivery.  Follow up necessary with trucker if water not satisfactory.  Water quality criteria (chlorine residual 0.5 mg/l recommended, bacteriological quality) must be specified in trucker contracts.
3. Completion of construction, prior to use: After disinfection and flushing of completed works.  Chlorine residual (should be zero before taking bacteria test if continuous disinfection not planned), microbiological test after flushing of reservoirs, distribution lines as part of final inspection.
4. Household samples: Coliform tests as needed as part of hygiene promotion campaigns to promote proper household storage and treatment.  Coliform tests preferred over H2S test to measure level of contamination before/after improvements
5. Ongoing surveillance: liaison with local health departments, local committees for training on water quality monitoring, start up materials.

5.  Project proposal development

“Toolkits: A practical guide to planning, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment” by SCF-UK is recommended as a basic reference text for program development.  It can be purchased through their website: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/54_2359.htm

Some donors have their own templates for project proposal development and these should be used when applying for funding from such donors.

6. Initial Site Assessments & Sanitary Surveys

There are site assessment templates and guidelines available in “Engineering for Emergencies” and WEDC’s “Emergency Sanitation”.  Sanitary survey templates are included as an appendix to the WHO "Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2^nd Edition, Volume 3 – Surveillance and control of community supplies”.

DFID has also compiled a list of useful links on management and protection of the environment in humanitarian crises:  http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/man-prot-envirot-humanitarian.pdf

There are lots of resources on this topic.  A methodology called “Participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation” (better know by the acronym PHAST) has been adopted by the Red Cross Movement as the standard for hygiene promotion programs.  The PHAST webpage (http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/envsan/phast/en/) has more information on this topic.

There is a related methodology called IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses) that also has a community participation element (http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/integr.htm).  If your health program includes an IMCI element, make sure activities are coordinated to avoid overlap.

Other resources:

• WEDC - Participatory planning for integrated rural water supply and sanitation programmes: Guidelines and Manual (http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/publications/details.php?book=1%2084380%20098%205&keyword=%participatory%20planning%20for%20integrated%20rural%20water%20supply%&subject=0&sort=TITLE )
• IRC (Intl Water & Sanitation Center) – Sustainability Planning and Monitoring in Community Water Supply and Sanitation (http://www.wsp.org/publications/mpa%202003.pdf
 

Projects should be implemented within the experience and technical skills of their host communities.  Using locally accepted engineering practices also may allow more people to become involved in overall project development.  If there is a perceived need for new technologies to be introduced, they must first be agreed to by the community.  Adequate technical training and continuing reinforcement must also be provided in order to encourage sustainability of the improvements.

The use of local materials and practices, including traditional system designs, construction methods and labor practices, should be encouraged, where appropriate, as communities are familiar with them and can immediately contribute to them.  This is an important element helping the community to develop a sense of ownership towards the project.

9. Training of Local Staff

Personnel responsible for project development should be properly trained and have relevant experience to carry out their responsibilities.  It is essential to ensure that staff are adequately trained and have the appropriate technical references to plan, implement, and support water and sanitation activities.

10. Emergency Response Guidelines

Please refer to “Engineering in Emergencies” and the SPHERE manual for general guidelines.  Engineering in Emergencies can be purchased through the Development Bookshop: http://www.developmentbookshop.com/ 

Additional Internet Links:

• Oxfam Manuals: (http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/how_we_work/manuals.htm)
• USAID DART manual:  http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/fog_v3.pdf
• UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.pdf?tbl=PUBL&id=3bb2fa26b
• UNICEF Emergency Field Handbook: http://www.unicef.org/lac/emergency_handbook.pdf

11. Exit Strategy

A clear exit strategy should be detailed at the project proposal stage.  The strategy should clearly state how hardware and software will be maintained after projects are completed.

Appendix – Additional Resources/Links

General Resource Links

1)  EPA websites:

a)  septic systems: http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/guidelines.cfm#7489

b)  sewer systems: http://www.epa.gov/owmitnet/mtb/index.htm

c)  drinking water: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.html

2)   UNICEF water, environment and sanitation (WES): http://www.unicef.org/wes/

3)   Intermediate Technology (IT) websites:

a)    ITDG Publishing: http://www.itdgpublishing.org.uk/

b)    Practical Action: http://practicalaction.org/?id=home

4)    International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC): http://www.irc.nl/page/104

5)    National Environmental Services Center ( West Virginia University ): http://www.nsfc.wvu.edu/

6)    Rehydration Project (emphasis on ORS research): http://rehydrate.org/index.html

7)    Watsan Web: http://www.watsanweb.ch/Content/Technology/General.htm

8)    WELL (DFID/WEDC): http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/

9)    WHO water and sanitation publications: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/en/index.html

10) World Bank websites:

a)    Water and Sanitation Program: http://www.wsp.org/08_Title.asp

b)    School Sanitation: http://www.schoolsanitation.org/

11) WASH in Schools: http://www.schools.watsan.net/page/107

Community Moblization/Hygiene Promotion

1)    Hand washing (http://www.globalhandwashing.org/)

2)    PHAST webpage (http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/envsan/phast/en/

3)    Hygiene Improvement Program (http://www.hip.watsan.net/)

4)    Hesperian Foundation (http://www.hesperian.org/ )

5)    Provention Consortium (http://www.proventionconsortium.org/?pageid=1)

Water Treatment

1)    Household Treatment and Storage (http://www.who.int/household_water/en/) (http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/wsh0207/en/print.html)

2)    Chlorine Disinfection

a)    Safe Water System http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/manual/sws_manual.pdf)

b)    Chlorine Residual Testing (http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/publications_pages/chlorineresidual.pdf)

c)    Required CT (http://www.cdc.gov/safewater/about_pages/chlorinationtable.htm)

3)    Solar Disinfection (SODIS - http://www.sodis.ch/)

4)    Ceramic Water Filters, Sand filters (http://www.rdic.org/waterstart.htm )

5)    Rainwater Catchment (http://www.rainfoundation.org/ , http://www.lankarainwater.org/ )

Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

1)    International Water & Sanitation Center (http://www.irc.nl/page/5983 )

2)    Cal State Sacramento (operator training): http://www.owp.csus.edu/training.php

Water System Design – General References

1)    Oxfam Manuals: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/how_we_work/manuals.htm

2)    Recommended Standards for Water Works (“Ten State Standards”): http://www.leafocean.com/test/10statepreface.html#IDH_TOC

3)    Washington State Department of Health publications (including Water System Design Manual): http://www4.doh.wa.gov/dw/publications/publications.cfm

Sanitation Design

1)    Onsite Consortium: http://www.onsiteconsortium.org/index.cfm

2)    WSDOH: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/WW/pubs-ww-rsg.htm

Lessons Learned

1)    SE Asia Tsunami 2004

a)    Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (http://www.tsunami-evaluation.org/ )

b)    World Bank (http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/INDONESIAEXTN/
0,,contentMDK:21164835~menuPK:50003484~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:226309,00.html )

c)    Aidwatch (http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2006/eoa-idn-28feb.pdf)

d)    American University Symposium May 2006 (http://www.cpbintl.org/Documents/TsunamiSymposiumSummaryMay06CPBI-AU.pdf )