Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
20-liter containers. The extra amount charged by the DSP covers his/her expense to ill
and transport water containers and provides an income to subsist on.
22.2.2.3 Quality
In its designs, WaterHealth uses components bought from world-class, name-brand manu-
facturers who pay considerable attention to the quality of their products. These compo-
nents may cost more upfront but, in the long run, end up costing less over the lifetime of
the equipment because they are well tested, more rugged, and tend to break down less
frequently compared with their low-cost counterparts. Generally, local organizations, pri-
marily government organizations, and benefactors that are funding the installation would
like to see their money spent on buying more systems, and the lower-cost systems supplied
by local integrators using non-name brand parts appear more lucrative. These organiza-
tions are either not aware of or do not pay attention to the subsequent repair and mainte-
nance costs that can add up signiicantly over the lifetime of the equipment. WaterHealth
has embarked on a campaign to not only educate its users but also the customers who are
buying or funding the installation of WHCs.
In operating the plant, WaterHealth pays great attention to the quality of treated water,
making sure that the water is safe for drinking at all times. Plants are run by highly trained
operators and are serviced by skilled technicians. Periodic servicing and maintenance are
carried out, and as part of this schedule, all water treatment equipment is cleaned and
sanitized. WaterHealth has established its own water-testing laboratories at major service
centers. Water quality is periodically monitored on site by quality technicians as well as
in the laboratory.
While other players in this segment do not pay as much attention to quality, WaterHealth
is able to incorporate it into its operations and service innovatively and at the same time is
able to keep the cost of water affordable to the population it serves.
22.2.2.4 Education
WaterHealth has launched Dr. Water as its brand of water dispensed through WHCs. It
is meant to establish a conidence with the user of guaranteed water quality. However, to
promote the use of its brand, it requires proactive education among the people in the com-
munity on the beneits associated with the use of puriied water, with Dr. Water being the
trusted brand for purity. Education campaigns are held in several stages, and the primary
objective is to communicate two key messages: (i) the health and hygiene beneits of using
its safe water and (ii) the beneits of community participation in supporting the WHC in
which it has an ownership interest. Educational outreach uses a multichannel approach
including plant visits, workshops, seminars, signage, pamphlets, etc. WaterHealth under-
stands that education campaigns particularly in remote areas are challenging and prefers
to work with local NGOs who already have a presence in the community to spread the
message on the health beneits of using clean water.
As part of its education campaign, WaterHealth tries to customize the message to the
type of audience it is communicating with. For instance, when holding seminars, work-
shops, and plant visits for school children, the communication objective is to help chil-
dren understand what may be present in contaminated water, how the contaminants
cause diseases, and what they should be following as part of correct sanitary and hygienic
practices. This is communicated in a simple and easy-to-understand method. Similarly, to
older audiences, the same message is communicated in more detail using different means.
