Arup, FRANK Water launch digital tools for better water management

London-headquartered engineering firm Arup has joined forces with UK water charity FRANK Water to launch digital tools for tackling water scarcity.

During their three-year partnership, FRANK Water and Arup have joined forces with Samerth Charitable Trust and the People’s Science Institute to tackle water crisis in India.

The collaboration resulted in the development of WASH Connect mobile app and WASH Basins Toolkit, which uses digital tools such as the KoBo Toolbox and India Space Programme technology.

It will help develop accurate assessments of the ground water situation and follow a six-stage water security process.

The app and toolkit will help water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) professionals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies facilitate safe sustainable and equitable water and sanitation services.

FRANK Water India programme manager Jon Shepherd said: “Unequal allocation of water is one of the world’s most urgent problems and the outbreak of Covid-19 has only served to further highlight the need for equitable, sustainable safe water.

“The WASH Connect app aims to directly help communities to understand and manage their water better, ensuring they have access to resilient water resources for generations to come.”

The project has worked with over 40 vulnerable communities in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the last three years.

A multi-level approach has been implemented with individual communities and local government agencies for joint control and management of water resources.