tipping point - spontaneous spill over

heather lukacs - Monday 22 May 2006

First, I would like to thank the organizers of this e-conference and all of you for sharing your experiences and approaches related to household water treatment and storage. Second, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Heather Lukacs. Many of you I have either met or know by name through the years that I worked with Susan Murcott at MIT. I am still inspired by her approach as illustrated by her 'Mother's Day gift' way of considering HHWT technology – which very much resonates with me.

Now, my question – I would appreciate feedback or thoughts from you:

Have you observed cases where household water treatment technologies (or hygiene education practices) have begun to spread spontaneously, without outside intervention among people who before did not treat their water?

In the Orangi Pilot Project in Pakistan, for example, masons were trained in building low-cost sewers in peri-urban areas. After the project funding dried up, the masons continued building sewers in other communities nearby. They were able to market their skills and broaden the impact of the original project.

There are so many places in the world where community-based organizations are aware of and want to help provide SAFE drinking water to people living in their communities. It seems to me that the right technology packaged in the right way for these independently motivated people would catch like wild fire. I would love to hear stories, your thoughts, or potentially come and research cases where this has (or is in the process) of happening.

I would like to see the discussion move from what is merely acceptable to what is preferred or desirable - after all who would want to give their mother an 'acceptable' gift for Mother's Day?

Peace to you all,
heather
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Heather Lukacs
PhD student
Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources
Stanford University
luka@stanford.edu