Naandi Community Water Services: Transforming Access to Safe Drinking Water in India

Naandi Community Water Services is a leading social enterprise in India focused on providing safe drinking water to underserved communities. Established in 2010, the initiative operates decentralized Community Water Centres, ensuring access to clean water while promoting community engagement and sustainability. With impressive statistics highlighting its impact, Naandi is transforming lives and fostering healthier communities…

Naandi Community Water Services

What is Naandi Community Water Services?

Naandi Community Water Services is one of India’s largest social enterprises, dedicated to saving lives by providing access to safe drinking water for underserved communities, in a sustainable manner. Established in 2010, the project operates as a network of decentralized Community Water Centres (CWCs) across regions where water sources are either contaminated or unfit for consumption. The initiative works hard to tackle issues like quality-affected habitations and unsafe water supplies, ensuring that every individual can rely on a clean water source. In a world where many communities face water shortages and contamination, Naandi stands out as a beacon of hope… providing not only water but also a promise of health and security.

Main Benefits and Key Figures

The impact of Naandi Community Water Services can be observed through several impressive statistics and key achievements. The project is firmly rooted in the conviction of providing water at an affordable price and ensuring community engagement every step of the way. Notable figures include:

  • 80,402 habitations marked as quality affected on or after 01.04.2019 as per JJM reports.
  • 46% nearly half of river stretches in India are known to be polluted.
  • 60-70% of districts suffer from ground water partial contamination.
  • 90% of municipalities are not able to serve clean water consistently.
  • 1,46,558 children under 5 lost their lives to diarrhea and pneumonia in India.

Our Operational Models

Naandi Community Water Services operates through models that emphasize sustainability and effective community engagement. The first major model is the Community Water Centre. This decentralized approach covers 696 villages spread across 7 states in India. In areas where traditional water sources have become unreliable or unsafe, these centres deliver clean and safe drinking water around the clock. Equally important is the School Water Model, which ensures that children in schools have access to water that is both safe and palatable. This dual approach helps communities overcome the challenges posed by contaminated water while also building healthier and more resilient communities.

Our Journey and Community Impact

Naandi’s journey is a fascinating tale of evolution—from initial intentions and pilot experiments to scaling up operations and successfully navigating challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The project has constantly maintained a focus on sustainability and building trust within communities. With each milestone, the initiative has managed to transform lives by significantly reducing the financial burden on households dealing with waterborne diseases. In some communities, respondents’ expenses related to waterborne illnesses showed an increase in those with no expenses from only 9% to a notable 41% post-Naandi intervention. Such figures speak volumes about the life-changing difference the project has made. And there’s more… the improvements in health outcomes and reduction in water fetching duties for women are clear markers of progress.

Project Contact and Social Presence

Naandi Community Water Services Private Limited is based in Hyderabad, Telangana. The office is located at DNo:6-3-571/1 to 7, Flat No: 301, 3rd Floor, Diamond Block, Lumbini Rockdale, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, with a postal pin code of 500082. For those interested in staying connected with the project or learning more about its operations, details are available on its various social media platforms. The organization is active on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram, offering continuous updates and engaging content about their latest initiatives and impacts across communities.

Additional Insights on the Initiative

Naandi Community Water Services is not just about water—it is about community engagement at its core. Operating in a space that is critical for human health, the initiative has a bcorp score of 127.2, which reflects its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. The project effectively addresses issues related to safe water, community water centers, and providing water at an affordable price in Hyderabad and other parts of India. By combining technology, innovative models, and a deep understanding of the community needs, Naandi has been continually evolving its services in response to the ever-changing realities of water safety and contamination.

Transformational Impact Aligned with SDGs

  • Reduced Financial Burden: Post-Naandi, households experienced a dramatic increase from 9% to 41% in respondents with no expenses for waterborne diseases.
  • Improved Health Outcomes: Instances of diarrhea have reduced significantly from 24% to only 1% following intervention by Naandi.
  • Reduced Drudgery for Women: With more households seeing men take on the responsibility of fetching water (an increase from 20% to 60%), the strain on women has lessened notably.
  • Access to Clean Water: The initiative delivers safe drinking water 24×7 at a nominal cost of Rs. 0.35 paise per litre, a game changer for numerous communities.

Impact on Underserved Communities

Naandi Community Water Services stands as a remarkable example of achieving social change through strategic planning and unwavering dedication. From its inception in 2010, the project has steadily transformed lives by not only providing safe drinking water but also by nurturing self-reliance in underserved communities. The target groups, which include some of India’s most vulnerable populations, now enjoy access to water that is both free from contamination and reliably available. Through a blend of innovative service models and impactful community engagement, Naandi has succeeded in altering the everyday realities of countless families, allowing them to look toward the future with hope and confidence. It is a dynamic project that nurtures community spirit, promotes health, and leverages sustainable practices to bring about lasting change in the realm of human health.

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