Over the past three years, Frank Water and our partner ACWADAM have been working with communities, local government and technical experts in Maharashtra to better understand the complex factors affecting water safety and security.
While water scarcity is often seen as the main challenge, our research revealed a more complex picture. Communities are facing a combination of groundwater depletion, water quality contamination and gaps in monitoring and management systems. This means that even when water is available, it is not always safe to drink.
To address these interconnected challenges, we began by generating evidence through groundwater studies, water quality testing and community consultations. This helped communities and local stakeholders understand the specific risks affecting their water sources and identify locally-led solutions.
We believe that lasting water security depends not just on infrastructure, but also on people having the knowledge, skills and support systems needed to manage water resources effectively. Through our work in Maharashtra, we identified a significant gap in local capacity for water quality monitoring and management. Addressing this gap has become a central focus of our approach in the region by strengthening frontline capacity and embedding sustainable solutions within existing government systems.
This month marks an important milestone in our journey in Maharashtra. More than 1,150 frontline workers and Jalsurakshaks (water protectors) across 323 Gram Panchayats (village councils) in four districts of Maharashtra will begin receiving training on water quality monitoring, risk identification and reporting. These local champions play a vital role in helping communities understand, respond to water quality challenges by reporting them to district and state government officials and lab technicians.
By investing in frontline capacity, we are helping create stronger systems for monitoring drinking water safety, ensuring that evidence can be translated into action at the local level. This represents an important step from research and planning to implementation and scale.
Ultimately, this work supports Frank Water’s mission to strengthen the systems, skills and institutions needed for long-term water security. By improving how water quality risks are monitored and managed, communities are better equipped to adapt to changing environmental conditions and safeguard access to safe water in an increasingly uncertain climate.
