National WASH Expert

Objectives

Government of India has launched 'Jal Jeevan Mission' as one of its national flagship programme with the objective to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households in the country by 2024. Jal Jeevan Mission- 'Har Ghar Jal' is being implemented in partnership with States/ UTs to provide potable water through Functional Household Tap connection (FHTC) with the focus on quantity, quality and affordability of water supply on regular and long term basis.

SPM - NIWAS, formerly National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality (NCDWSQ), Kolkata, an autonomous institution of Government of India, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti invites online applications from eligible candidates for "Empanelment and Deployment as Sector Experts" professional having experience in water supply and sanitation sector for ground truthing and providing technical assistance in implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission at ground level under following categories:

S. No. Category of Expert 

1. Regional/ bulk water supply expert

2. In-village water supply expert

3. Hydrogeology expert

4. Solid & Liquid Waste Management Expert

5. Community mobilization expert

6. Water quality expert

Eligibility Criteria of Experts 

The Sector Expert will be engaged till the maximum age of 70 years. The maximum age limit should not exceed 69 years on the date of submission of application for empanelment as Sector Experts. (Click here for detailed Notification)

Very strong moral and ethical standards in conduct are expected from empanelled Experts. The Experts will be dropped, if quality of out-put or standard of behavior, punctuality, discipline) etc. are not found upto the mark.

a) Regional/ bulk water supply expert

• The applicant should have bachelor's degree in Civil/ Mechanical engineering; and

• The applicant should have 20 years of relevant experience in planning/ design/ implementation/ maintenance of one or more of the bulk water transfer schemes/ MVS/ RWSS/ WTPs for water supply schemes; or

• The person worked/ retired from the rank of Engineer-in-Chief/ Chief Engineer/ Superintending Engineer or equivalent and with experience in planning/ design/ implementation/ maintenance of one or more of the water supply schemes in Public Health Engineering (Water supply and Sanitation) Department of States.

b) In-village water supply expert

• The applicant should have Degree/ Diploma in Civil/ Mechanical Engineering or Master's or higher degree in hydrology or related field

• The applicant must have 10 years of relevant experience in planning/ design/ implementation/ maintenance of one or more of the water supply schemes in public or private sector.

• The person has worked/ retired from the rank of Executive Engineer or equivalent from Public Health Engineering of a Government Department.

• The applicant has minimum 10 years' experience in water hydrology and designed the recharge structures/ water conservation plan, etc.

• The person has 10 years' experience implementation/ O&M of WTPs/ CWPPs for water supply schemes.

c) Hydrogeology expert

• The applicant should have bachelor's degree in science; and

• The applicant should have at least 10 years' experience in hydrogeology, aquifer pattern study, groundwater recharge structures, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, determining the potential yield of bore well & determining its sustainability, catchment protection, watershed management, soil ability to visualize geology and conceptualize groundwater flow and read, understand the interpretation of hydrogeological data, HGM maps, GIS data, remote sensing data & reports, understand groundwater contamination, etc.

d) Solid and Liquid Waste Management Expert

• The applicant should have bachelor's degree preferably in environmental engineering or Public Health Engineering or Environmental Science or Water and Sanitation.

• The applicant should have 10 years of relevant experience in planning/ design/ implementation/ maintenance of one or more of the SLWM, grey water system in rural and urban areas.

e) Community mobilization expert

• The applicant should have bachelor's degree preferably in humanities, science or social work; and

• Experience of having worked in social sector for at least five years. The experience in water supply sector, water resource or natural resource management will be preferred.

f) Water quality expert

• The applicant should have bachelor's degree in science.

• Assessor empaneled with NABL.

• The applicant should have 10 years of experience in water quality testing.

• The person worked/ retired from the rank of Chief Chemist in Public Health Engineering (Water supply and Sanitation Department) of States/UTs.

• The applicant should have minimuml0 years of experience of working in any labs of Union Government/ State Government, as chemist/ microbiologist.

• Apart from the above-mentioned eligibility criteria, the experts are to have a highly functional working knowledge of MS Office and be conversant with digital medium, viz. use of internet, communication via e-mail, and understanding of digital knowledge platforms like JJM - Integrated Management Information System (IMIS).

Roles & Responsibilities Scope of Work

I. General scope of work (applicable for all experts)

All experts visiting a village are to interact with village community  and take   feedback, make observations on all aspects of Jal Jeevan Mission and provide inputs accordingly.

 The different aspects to be covered areas under: 

a) lmplementation of water supply work in villages

• Appropriateness of investment.

• Quality of implementation as per plan.

• Community participation in planning and community contribution.

• Verification of coverage status of tap water connections in the villages as reported in the JJM-IMIS

• Status of supply interms of quality, quantity and regularity by taking sample from few household taps including tail-end.

• Equity of water supply to various habitations in village.

b) Adequacy of source of water supply/ delivery point

• Adequacy of availability of water.

• Treatment being provided before distribution.

• Issues related to regularity of supply.

• Capacity of community to manage and maintain the source.

c) O& M arrangement of water supply work in villages

• Verification of O&M arrangements of in-village infrastructure.

• Availability of local plumber, electrician, fitter, pump operator, motor mechanic, etc. and ability of the local community to resolve the small water supply issues.

• Effectiveness of grievance redressal mechanism.

• Collection of water usage charge and financial sustainability.

• Maintenance of records and adoption of IT based systems to function as local public utility.

• Status of disinfection/ chlorination, treatment of water, etc.

d) WQMS activities in the village

• Access of the testing of water quality using FTKs at village level and its effectiveness.

• Verification of FTK trained personnel in village.

• Ease of access to labs/ awareness among people regarding availability of water quality testing to the public by the labs, etc.

• Status of treatment unit e.g. filtration units, chlorinators, etc. used to treat water before supply to village.

e) Source sustainability, Solid and Liquid Waste Management and grey water management

• Implementation of source sustainability measures and grey water management.

• Convergence of fund for in provision of GWM, source sustainability for five years.

• Appropriateness of source sustainability, SLWM and grey water management.

II. Specific scope of work: Based on their respective domain of expertise, specific scope of work relevant to JJM will be as under:

a) Regional/ bulk water supply expert

• Assess the design and estimates and carry out techno-economic feasibility.

• Review of the quality of construction and material used and operation & maintenance of assets.

• Monitor the implementation of large MVS/ Regional/ Bulk water transfer schemes as per planning.

• Scrutinize the report of source finding committee and review the implementation of source recharging proposals to ensure long term source sustainability.

• Assess whether the JJM implementation is following the mission guidelines and identify the deviations for undertaking corrective actions by stakeholders.

• The working/ maintenance of CWPPs/ WTPs, pumping stations, distribution systems, storage structures, etc. may also be monitored by such experts.

b) In-village water supply expert

• Monitor the implementation of in-village water supply infrastructure as per the approved DPR/ estimate.

• Review the appropriateness of the investment, utilization of existing infrastructure, capacity of VWSC/Pani Samiti to operate and maintain the scheme.

• Techno-economic appraisal.

• Review the quality of construction and material used and operation & maintenance of assets.

• Assess the performance of the distribution network -residual pressure at the tail­ end, leakage, unauthorized drawl, adhering to the schedule of water supply, cleaning of water tanks/ underground sumps, functioning of pumps, star rating of pumps, etc.

• Check that there is no design constraint for equitable distribution.

• Scrutinize the report of source finding committee and implementation of source recharging proposal.

• Assess whether the JJM implementation is as per mission guidelines and identify the deviations for undertaking corrective actions.

• Verification of O&M arrangement, availability of tool kits, emergency spare parts, capacity building/ training of plumbers, electricians and fitter, etc.

c) Hydrogeology expert

• Assessment of availability of water sources in the village to ensure long-term sustained water supplies in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on long­ term basis

• Observation on identification & appropriateness, designing and construction of water source structure for drinking water supply.

• Review of source strengthening and source sustainability action plans.

d) Solid and Liquid Waste Management expert

• Adequacy of SoiId and Liquid Waste Management Plan, Grey Water Management plan of village.

• Implementation of SLWM plan, grey water management system as per plan.

• Observation on collection, treatment, disposal and reuse strategies of SLWM& grey water.

e) Community mobilization expert

• Assess role of VWSC/ Pani Samiti in village & performance to supply water service delivery in their jurisdiction.

• Review water supply from equity and inclusiveness point of view.

• Review the coverage and reach of the scheme in respect of SC/ ST and other marginalized households.

• Observation on the grievance redressal mechanism in the village.

• Community mobilization & their participation in planning, implementation, O&M and service delivery.

• Assess community contribution towards capital cost and verify whether the VWSC/ Pani Samiti has been informed about the taking over of O&M of in-village infrastructure & review the bank account, and what is fund flow arrangements, etc.

• Scrutinize the Village Action Plan (VAP), participation of women and marginalized section in VWSC/ Pani Samiti & frequency of meetings conducted, etc.

• Assess the various components of VAP such as grey water management, action taken or proposed for long term source sustainability, O&M, etc.

• Review whether the convergence of funds from various other government schemes i.e. lSthFinance Commission tied grant for water & sanitation, Swachh Bharat Mission, DMDF, MGNREGS, CSR, etc. is undertaken in the village.

• Monitor the adequacy of signage boards at site, slogans in the village in line with guidance given in the "Margdarshika for gram Panchayat & VWSC" by NJJM.

• Examine the certificate declaring 'Har Ghar Jal' village.

• Examine the composition of VWSC/ Pani Samiti and its functioning in light of JJM guidelines.

• Examine the record keeping by VWSC/ Pani Samiti for O&M, community contribution, IEC and training activity by ISA & other agencies.

• Functioning of VWSC/ Pani samiti as local public utility for service providing.

• Opinion of community, about the functionality of water supply scheme.

f) Water Quality Monitoring Expert

• Water quality testing undertaken by the different levels of water quality laboratories and verify the uploading of test results in the WQMIS portal.

• Review working of Labs, capacity utilization, turnaround time of sample etc.

• Ease of access to labs/ awareness among people regarding availability of water quality testing to the public by the labs.

• Working of CWPPs/ WTP, pumping stations, distribution system, storage structures, etc. from a water quality perspective, etc.