Guidelines on accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges

EXTRAORDINARY PART I—Section 1 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 191] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY , AUGUST 8, 2023/SHRAVANA 17, 194 5 CG-DL-E-08082023-247921 MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation ) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 2nd August, 2023 CDN -11017/58/2021 -Coordination -DDWS .—Wherea s Section 40 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandates the Central Government, in consultation with the Chief Commissioner, to formulate rules laying down standards of accessibility inter -alia for facilities and services provided to the public in urban and rural areas; 2. And whereas, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti after consultation with stakeholders and Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, has finalized the standards in the for m of ‘Guidelines on accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges’. 3. Now, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, M/o Jal Shakti hereby notifies the s tandards on ‘accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges’ as placed at Annexure , and the same is available at https://jalsha kti-ddws.gov.in/ VIKAS SHEEL, Addl . Secy . Annexure Guidelines on accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges 1. Context and int roduction : These draft guidelines are to provide inputs to the Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons. In this document the existing provisions of the various guideline s are compared and provisions are suggested for inclusive design of piped drinking water supply at household, community and institutional level, including public offices and places. There are documents prepared by different organizations on detailing the n orms for the accessibility of built environments in India. They are:  Handbook on Barrier Free and Accessibility, Central Public Works Department (CPWD);  Harmonised Guidelines (2021) and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons, MoHUA;  National Building Code (Special Publication No. 7); and  International Standard: ISO 21542:2011, Building construction — Accessibility and usability of the Built Environment, International Organization for Standardizati on. 2. Objective: The objective of this document is to provide information for designing an accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges, including people with temporary access challenges such as pregnant women or mothers with young children or individuals who are suffering from short term physical ailments, since they too face similar barriers while accessing drinking water facilities. 3. Major disabilities which form as ba rriers to accessing piped water needs freely: Blindness, Low -vision, Locomotors Disability, Dwarfism, Leprosy -cured persons, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy, Chronic Neurological conditions, Multiple Sclerosis, Sickle Cell dise ase, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Disabilities, etc. 4. A Person with disability (PwD) is a person with long -term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with barriers, hinders full and effective participation in society equally with others' and lists 21 types of disabilities', as defined by The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. 5. Potential solutions that can be deployed for addressing these access barriers: The references provided herein present a broad vari ety of options to make drinking water points in public spaces and at household level more accessible for persons with disabilities, elderly people and other individuals who may have temporary requirement for such accessibility (injuries, pregnancy, etc.) a s well. While these recommendations broadly take into consideration different disabilities, these may need to be further refined while developing designs at the ground level so to ensure that all the essential requirements are prioritized. For locations th at are affected by droughts, floods and other natural disasters, these recommendations need to be further refined taking into consideration the geographical location, financial constraints, communities' requirements and demands, etc., also considering the requirements of specific disasters for which the area is prone for. 6. Accessible drinking water facility: A piped drinking water facility will be defined as accessible if it meets the following requirements:  Addresses the barriers to accessing safe drinki ng water, including barriers in reaching the tap, in entering and getting out of the space where the tap is located, and in using the tap to source clean drinking water. Such accessibility needs to be assured wherein water usage is essential (how to provid e space for carrying water);  Ensures safety of the users at all times;  Ensures ease of access to all the users, especially persons with disabilities and elderly persons at all times; and  Ensures dignity of the users at all times. 6.1 Assistive devices and technologies: Assistive devices and technologies are those whose primary purpose is to maintain or improve an individual's functioning and independence to facilitate participation and to enhance overall wellbeing. In addition to the infrastructure, some pe rsons with disabilities and elderly persons may also require assistive devices and aids, such as wheelchairs, prostheses, visual aids, etc., which would facilitate or improve their mobility, support and independence. 6.2 Retrofitting of existing piped wate r facilities: In cases where drinking water points already exist in the mentioned facilities, retrofitting will be prioritized over new installations. Retrofitting of existing water points will majorly comprise adjusting heights of the water points, introd ucing foot -pedal operated taps, taps with long handles and easy operation, adding support bars, providing markers and signs to make the water points more accessible. 7. Summary of different access barriers to accessing piped water supply: Some of the speci fic accessibility barriers that this document will try to address by way of suggesting solutions are listed below: Category Examples of barriers faced Physical : barriers in the natural environment or infrastructure i.) Pathway to the drinking water facility s lippery/rough/steep; ii.) Uneven and/ or improper pavement; iii.) Steep steps; iv.) Narrow entrances; v.) Slippery/dirty floor; vi.) Inaccessible water collection points (height, tap type, space to the bottle on without having to hold it at all times); and vii.) Inaccessible water colle ction points (height, tap type, space to the bottle on without having to hold it at all times). Policy/institutional : systematic exclusion or neglect in institutions and organizations, and at the policy level, including capacity gaps i.) Exclusion from proces s of planning and design of facilities; ii.) Lack of clear policy guidelines on accessible piped drinking water for PwDs; iii.) Lack of awareness on design features of accessible water collection and drinking points; and iv.) IEC and technical capacity building material n ot available for PwDs, families, PRI leaders and service provider. Social/ attitudinal : related to beliefs, perceptions, taboos, stigma, etc. in the society Social disabilities — wherein certain groups of people are neglected i.) Neglect/lack of adequate supp ort by the family members or caregivers (for those PwDs who have family members/ care givers to support them); ii.) Neglect/lack of adequate support towards ensuring accessible PWS and elderly persons belonging to single person households; and iii.) Teasing/ bullying /shaming by family/ community members/ Abuse. 8. Common Design considerations: Following set of principles, as mentioned below, may be taken into consideration while designing accessible piped water supply points: 1. Attractive and convenient to use For exa mple, by painting in bright colours; use of high quality materials and fittings; use of safe water. 2. Easy -to-use The tap storage space and the water point equipment should be easy to use for able persons, persons with disabilities, elderly persons, childr en, etc. 3. Accessible to all users The height and design of the water point need to be adjusted for children and people with disabilities. For children, the height should be between 500 -700 mm and for wheelchair users <850mm. In practice, this will require either two water points set at different heights, or one flexible modular unit with two water points. For wheel chair users, older people who might be unsteady on Their feet and users with other mobility devices (e.g. crutches), check that they don't need to lean too far forward to reach the tap/ foot pedal, water bottle/ cup holding point or push too hard to turn the device on. The area around the water point should be flat with a non -slip surface and overflowing water from the water point should be direc ted towards the drainage set up. 4. Sufficient taps The maximum number of users during peak demand should be considered. One drinking water facility with many taps or multiple separate units may be required to prevent queues. 5. Appropriate size/ shape Where space is limited the drinking water facility design may need to be adapted accordingly while always ensuring that the facility is accessible for PwDs and elderly persons. 6. Reliable waters supply Unless there is a reliable 24/7piped water connection avail able, a local water storage container will be required. This could be specific to the drinking water facility, or has connection from the central storage. Water quality should be inspected regularly. Water storage tank must be cleaned quarterly (at a minim um) 7. Avoid splashing and provide good drainage The counter/ basin should be large enough to avoid splashing. Overflowing water from the water point should be directed towards a soak -pit or drain, depending on the location. 8. Selection of materials For dri nking water facilities installed in an outside area, appropriate materials should be selected that do not corrode quickly (e.g. stainless steel) or degrade in sunlight (plastics must be UV - resistant). Depending on the requirement, taps and water points that have good accessibility, need to be set up. The components most likely to fail are the tap, the fitting between the tap and tank, or (for hands -free designs) the mechanism for operating the tap or the water point. In order to reduce future maintenance, it is worth doing some research on different options available. 9. Durable and reliable Designs must be robust to provide a long -term facility with minimal maintenance required, ensuring accessibility for PwDs and elderly people at all times. Given that public facilities are likely to be used intensely, appropriate materials should be selected and a high quality of craftsmanship should be ensured. The stand for the water tank and pipe connection must be strong enough to hold the maximum weight and flow of wa ter, and stable to prevent it being easily knocked over (or blown over for facilities outside). For large water tanks, a separate valve (stopcock) is recommended to avoid wastage of water when a tap breaks or is being changed. 10. Easy to repair Simple to re pair with materials, spare parts and relevant technical skills available locally. Sometimes capacity and supply chains may need to be actively built. 11. Affordable and provides value -for- money Along -lasting facility will cost more but will be better value i n the long run. So, when evaluating different design options consider both the capital cost (including transport and onsite assembly work) and the ongoing O&Mover the design life ('life cycle costs'). Affordability will also be influenced by who is funding the facility — something that is affordable for a non -governmental organization (NGO) or private company to buy, may not be affordable for the local government or a community - based organization and thus limiting future replication and scale -up. 9. Followin g are the suggested requirements that may be considered, for specific contexts wherein various types of accessibilities do exist . The requirement for various user groups for different facilities could be as under: Type of Facility Possible users Accessibil ity Requirements Anganwadi centres Children under the age of 5 Pregnant women, Mothers with new born babies, Anganwadi workers Baby friendly water points (height, location, ease of access) Common water points need to be accessible for children, pregnant w omen, mothers and facilitators. At least two common -water points need to be set up, making them accessible for children, pregnant women, new mothers, AWC w orkers while ensuring access to safe water focusing on children and persons with disabilities. Prima ry/ middle schools Children under the age of 12, Teachers and other workers at primary schools At least two common water points need to be set up, making them accessible for children and adults that ensure access to safe water for children and persons with disabilities. Secondary/ higher secondary schools Children between the ages 12 -18, Teachers and other workers at secondary schools At least two common water points need to be set up, making them accessible for children and adults that ensure access to safe water for children and persons with disabilities. Residential Schools Residential students (age ranging from age 8 to 18), Residential faculty members, Residential admin istrators Parents and guardians (including elderly persons) Sanitation workers and support staff At least two common water points (in the school premises) need to be set up making them accessible and ensuring access to safe water for children, staff, visitors, and others with focus on persons with disabilities. At least one accessib le drinking water point per floor for every dormitory floor, staff area and visitor’s area in the residential complex. Health and Wellness centers (out-patient, observation and labour) Children, Young adults, Adults, Pregnant women, Elderly persons, Healt hcare staff, Administrative staff, Sanitation workers and support staff At least two common water points (within the premises of the PHC building) need to be set up making them accessible and ensuring access to safe water for children, pregnant women and persons with disabilities. Primary health centers (6 beds approx.) Community health Centers (30 beds approx.); Civil and District hospitals (100 beds and above) Children, Young adults, Adults Pregnant women, Elderly persons, Healthcare staff, Administr ative staff, Sanitation workers and support staff At least two common water points (within the premises of the outpatient ward) need to be set up making them accessi ble and ensuring access to safe water for children and other persons with disabilities. At least one acces sible drinking water point per ward (male, female, pediatric), visitors area and staff area within the facility 10. The various building space/ interfaces where water and sanitation activities are performed and the interventions specified in the above document required to increase their accessibility for differently abled people are tabulated as under: Wash Basins Dimensions CPWD HG (2021) NBC ISO Height of the washbasin (rim/ top edge) Not higher than 750 mm above the finished floor leve l. Provisions of drinking water facilities shall be created at two different heights, one between 750 mm to 800 mm range for wheelchair users or persons with a low height. The other at 900 mm which is convenient for standing adults. 800 mm and 840 mm from the floor. Be mounted such that the minimum distance between the center line of the fixture and the side wall is 460 mm. 750 mm to 850 mm from the floor. The differences in stature of the population worldwide may require lower or higher heights of washbas ins. National regulations may give the most convenient and appropriate height for washbasins at a national level. Knee and toe Space A clearance of 550 mm shall be main - tained from the fin- ished floor level to the bottom of the apron. Unobstr ucted space under the washbasin : a. Have a clear knee space between the bottom of the apron and floor or ground of at least 750 mm wide, 200 mm deep and 700 mm high. b. Have a toe space, not less than 750 mm wide and 230 mm high. Knee space of at least 750 mm wide by 200 mm deep by 680 mm high. Toe space of at least 750 mm wide by 230 mm deep by 230 mm high. Knee clearance: between 650 mm and 700 mm high and 200 mm deep. Toe clearance of at least 300 mm. Maneuvering space in front of washbasin In front of the water closet and wash basin and the relative fixtures should be arranged to facilitate a clear floor space shall be provided of at least 900 mm x 1200 mm. If the above - mentioned space is not available, an uncompromising space of 1500 mm diameter shall be provid ed. 900 mm wide by 1200 mm deep, of which a maximum of 480 mm in depth may be under the wash basin. In front of the washbasin, space should allow for a frontal or oblique approach by a wheelchair. Reach to the tap The drinking water counter may be proje cted up to 480mm from the edge of the wall surface. The water flow should be from a height of 100 mm so that it allows the insertion of a cup or glass for drinking water. The front edge of the washbasin shall be located within a distance of 350 mm to 600 mm from the wall. The reaching distance to the tap control shall be a maximum of 300 mm. Dimensions of shelf Shelf for toiletries should be provided between the heights of 400 mm to 800 mm. the drinking fountains should provide bottle fillers. The water flow should be from a height of 100 mm so that it allows the insertion of a cup or glass for drinking water. 400 mm x 200 mm fixed at a height of between 900 mm and 1000 mm from the floor. 200 mm X 400 mm at a height of 850 mm. Mirror & drain The bottom edge at a height of not more than 1000 mm from the floor and mirror should be tilted at an angle of 30 degree for better visibility of wheelchair user. A drain should be located under the drinking fountain to prevent the ground surface from becoming water logged or muddy. The bottom edge at a height of not more than 1000 mm from the floor as shown in the figure, and mirror shall be tilted at an angle of 30° for better visibility of wheelchair user. Care shall be taken in placing mirrors and lights to avoid confusion and dazzling for visually impaired users Top height min. 1900 mm, bottom height max. 900 mm above floor. B) Taps Dimensions CPWD HG NBC ISO Type of taps / controls Automatic or lever control type without spring loading. Tap shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. Hand -operated or electronically controlled. Hand -operated controls should : - be operable by one hand, - require no tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, have handles of lever type (not self-closing) operable with a closed fist. - Lever -type handles or other alternative mechanisms like sensor -operated taps, etc. shall be used for easy operation. Hand -operated or electronically controlled Hand -operated controls shall: - Be operable by one hand, -Require no tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist Have handles of lever type (not self -closing) operable with a closed fist. Taps should be mixer, lever or sensor operated to aid operation. Force required Not greater than 22 N. Less tha n 22 N to activate. Less than 20 N to activate. Colour/tactile The controls should be Colour -contrasted with the surrounding face plate panel and the faceplate should similarly contrast with the background wall on which it is mounted. Similarly contrast with the back - ground wall on which it is mounted. Colour -contrasted with the surrounding face plate panel and the face plate shall similarly contrast with the background wall on which it is mounted. Hot and cold -water taps should be identifiable by both colour and tactile markings. Information Preferably be in relief (embossed letters/ symbols accompanied with Braille information) for tactile reading. The signage systems shall incorporate symbols for persons with disabilities, family - friendly facilities , transgender groups and other user groups. Emergency information signs should be well integrated into the toilet systems for ensuring legibility and clarity at all times. To enhance accessibility, the status of washroom occupancy can be depicted with red for occupied and green for vacant in a multi - format communication. Lists the details of the information and signage system required for accessible toilets. The unisex and individual accessible cubicles in male and female toilets accessible toilets should have signage represented by the International Symbol of Access (ISA). The unisex or gender - inclusive toilets shall be marked with clear signages. Drinking water facilities in buildings should be easily locatable, identifiable and reachable through well-identified signage. Temperature For easy identification and accessibility, all signages must be supplemented by tactile features and separate signages in Braille. Additionally, for identification, a distinct audio sound (beeper/clapper) may be installed a bove the entrance door. For easy steering around inside the toilet, a tactile toilet layout should be provided on the wall, near the latch side between 900mm to 1200mm height range. A thermostat be installed to limit the temperature of the hot water to a maximum of 40° C in order to prevent scalding. Examples of design considerations/solutions being envisaged for identified difficulties faced in accessing/using water points Type of disability Identified difficulties faced in accessing/using water points Examples of design considerations/solutions being envisaged Examples Major disabilities which form as barriers to accessing piped water needs freely: Locomotors Disability, Dwarfism, Leprosy -cured persons, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy, Chronic Neurological conditions, Multiple Sclerosis, Sickle Cell disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Disabilities, etc. Difficulties in maintaining balance Difficulties in bending, getting up and/or turning Difficulty in finding and/or holding objects such as door knob, water container, tap etc. Extreme pain in movement Proper pavement without any barriers in the path leading to the water point. Pathways should be constructed of non - slip material; At places where there is a difference in level, such as where staircases meet floors, it is desirable that the appearance of the surface material be changed using colour contrast both immediately before and after that area; Handrail along the path for support; Ramps with adequate slope (if required); Drinking water stations similar to the pictured hand washing stations can be a viable option. These stations include foot operated pedals to turn on the taps (useful for persons with disabilities related to upper limbs), stations with different heights and long handles as pictured below (making them accessible for persons in wheel chairs and for children). Floor made of non -slippery material; Water point surroundings should have adequate space for a wheelchair to enter and turn; Taps that have automatic sensors, foot operators and storage space underneath the tap to fill a water bottle and adequate room for a person with a wheelchair, crutch, etc. to move comfortably; Handrail/grab bar on both the sides of the water point; Height/ level of fixtures adjus ted as per requirement; Depending on the type of water fountain allow an adequate space under the fountain; Modifications to the entrance to make it eas ily accessible for persons with multiple disabilities; Bold signs to locate the accessible water points, provide a clear designation of places, warnings and routing information. Similar accommodations, as shown in the picture hand washing facilitie s, need to be made for drinking water facilities as well. Hand rails should be ensured at drinking water points so to make them more accessible for persons who may need additional hand hold or back support. Vision impairments, Complete blindness, low vis ion. Difficulty in finding path/ Difficulty in maintaining balance/ Difficulty in finding and/ or holding objects such as doorknob, water container etc. Landmark posts/guide strings along the path leading to the tap; Handrail/grab bar by the tap; Floor made of non -slippery material; Taps with voice sensors, audio indicators for when the tap is on and off and when a bottle is filled, braille indications which side in on and off of the tap etc.; Baby friendly taps should be in-place; Area around and outside the tap well illuminated; Adequate colour/tonal contract between walls, Floor and fixtures; Bold signs to locate the accessible water points, provide a clear designation of places, warnings and routing information. Wooden posts as landmarks, gui dance markers, handrail grabs needs to be provided for persons with visual impairments. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi -110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi -110054.