Survey of status of drinking water supply in rural habitations

This document contains a set of instructions for carrying out a survey on the status of drinking water supply in rural habitations to be used in the formulation of schemes and programmes for the rural drinking water supply component of India's Eighth Plan. It contains detailed guidelines for preparing and conducting the two-part survey and reporting the data generated from it. These include instructions on the printing of survey formats, involving agencies and participants of the survey, training of investigators at all levels since the survey involves the understanding of technical terms, compiling and reporting data collected, and time scheduling. Instructions on how to fill out each section of the four formats in part one of the survey which cover population, coverage and source; details of existing safe water supply systems; and drinking water requirements for cattle, are followed by sample copies of the four formats. The same procedure is used for part two which covers existing sources and problems of drinking water, operation and maintenance, tariff structure, and details of earlier approval of schemes (if any). Supplementary information in the annexures includes definitions and norms, a list of programmes under which the water supply projects are implemented, a list of abbreviations, and instructions/guidelines for the field level survey for the use of the leader and members of the team.