Focus Group Discussions

We have conducted a number of focus group discussions (FGDs) in several villages, previously surveyed. FGDs are held with well user committees, technicians and community members. Committee and community FGDs were mixed and single gender. Questions range from what is safe drinking water to what are the responsibilities of the water user committee and their interactions with the community. Participants are eager to answer questions and comment on various water and well activities in the community.

The two most striking themes that have come from the FGDs are apathy and lack of knowledge, both relating to water and wells. Both community members and committee members seem apathetic to pump wells no longer working and tasks not being completed, such as fencing and cleaning the well area. Lack of knowledge relates to scientific and health knowledge. Members from all FGDs had mixed responses to safe drinking water, but knowledge was minimal when it came to questions about contamination, transmission and germs.

Apathy and lack of knowledge are particularly dangerous when relating to community water sources because it leads to fetching water from contaminated sources. Even if the source is not contaminated, lack of knowledge about appropriate storage systems can lead to contamination.

The provision of water supply systems must be accompanied with proper education and awareness about water. Communities are apathetic because they lack knowledge about safe water and the capacity to provide safe water at the community level. Focus group discussions prove to be an effective mechanism in identifying knowledge breakdown and community practices that limit livelihood improvement, such as access to safe and clean drinking water.

Alannah Delahunty