| This study investigates the dynamics of the relationship among sources of water, human health, and consumption patterns in rural communities of Sunderbans in West Bengal, India. Seven villages in two administrative blocks were studied to see whether improved water services results in improved water consumption behaviors and leads to better health. In the villages there were only two types of sources, tube wells and ponds, and the water collected was consumed untreated. The tube wells are provided either by the government or by the nonprofit organizations working in these villages. These organizations also provide advocacy and outreach services on water and sanitation. This study also investigates the differences in usage between the users of different service providers. Participatory rural appraisal, household surveys, in-depth interviews, participant observations and focus groups discussions were used in this study. The quantitative data derived from the household surveys was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The qualitative data was analyzed using grounded theory, identifying patterns and supporting the main ideas from the interviews, discussions and observations. This study found that households collecting water from improved water sources installed by the nonprofit organizations use the tube well water more frequently for cleaning and washing purposes. The communities depending on government-installed sources show high pond water usage for all water uses other the drinking. Results indicate that accessibility of water, such as the distance to the source of water, directly affects water consumption habits. Moreover, accessibility of water, directly and indirectly, affects the health of the community. The research shows that differences in the water management approach adopted by different water providers produce significantly different outcomes in terms of water usage patterns and health levels of the communities. |
