Access to clean & safe drinking and Sanitation are basic and fundamental human right. As the global population grows, so does the demand for safe drinking water & sanitation This present study was thus carried out to assess the Physical, chemical and biological quality of Drinking water at household level in Shimla city. Material & Methods: It was a crosssectional study. Drinking water samples were tested from 640 households from all the 34 wards under Municipal corporation area in the Shimla city for various quality parameters in the months July to October 2020. Results: Study results showed that 93.1% households used pipe line water supply through Municipal Co-Corporation Or Irrigation & Public health connection, 2.2% public tap and 4.7% bowri/handpump for drinking water purposes. Only 1.6% respondents found the water had bad taste and only 1.1% complained of bad or muddy colored of water supply. Almost all the biochemical tests (PH ,turbidity, total hardness, total chloride, total residual chlorine, total iron, total nitrates & total fluorides) of water were found to be within normal permissible limits. 24.1% households had positive bacteriological test results. 53.3% of households who used bowris/handpumps for drinking water purposes while 22.7% who used pipe line water and 21.4% who used public taps, were found to had positive bacteriological test. Conclusion: The present study observed still people used bowri/handpump as a main drinking water source. Water quality showed unsatisfactory results especially with respect to bacteriological quality. Since water is directly related to human health, it is necessary to bring awareness among the present and future generation about the causes and consequences of contamination of drinking water.

Water sanitation & Hygiene facilities are basic requirement of each individual to live socially & economically productive life as per WHO approximately 8,27000 people in low & Middle income countries die as a result of inadequate water ,sanitation, & hygiene each year. Universal access to a basic drinking water source appears within reach, but universal access to basic sanitation will require additional efforts. This study was done to assess prevailing situation and to identify the areas of intervention. Material & Methods: Cross-sectional KAP study done by Residents & Medical Social Workers After proper training during July 2020-september 2020. Results: 97.2 % of respondents had toilet facility, 2.5% use community toilets while 0.8% went for open defecation, 95.94 had all toilets functional, 4.7% had toilet related problems like flooding of toilets,17.19% share toilets with other households, and 99.2% had never went for open defecation, 92.8% had bathing facility at their homes, among them 98.4% had drainage system in the bathroom.96.3% had separate kitchen in their household, among them 94.8 % had smoke outlet in their kitchen. 94.1% respondent used cooking gas as fuel. Conclusion: Situation of kitchen, toilet& bathroom has improved over the years compared to NFHS 4 data, Continuous efforts to sustain existing facilities & to widen the area of coverage to 100% population

This study assessed the quality of natural water resources, specifically bowris and handpumps, in Shimla City, Himachal Pradesh. While the physicochemical properties of the water were generally within recommended levels, 73.3% of bowris and 26.3% of handpumps tested positive for bacteriological contamination, posing a potential risk for hepatitis outbreaks and other waterborne diseases. The findings underscore the need for measures to improve the biological safety of these water sources, including promoting the use of safe water, health education, sanitation improvement, and hygiene promotion. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for biological contamination and to develop appropriate interventions.

Every year millions of people die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. This qualitative study was carried out to know about the Practices about Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and Solid Waste Management followed in Shimla City Material & Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 34 wards under Municipal corporation area in the Shimla city from July to October 2020. A variety of qualitative data collection tools and approaches was used to capture and triangulate the diverse understandings and lived experiences of water security and solid waste management in Shimla city. Specifically, Photo Voice, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and participatory transect walks was used to capture qualitative data. Results: Many themes and subthemes were selected based on the FGD and IDI. Most of respondents were satisfied with quality and quality of drinking water due to new pipe lines but still there is leakage at some places due to poor maintenance. Situation of Door to door collection of garbage is improved day by day. But still there were issues of separating dry and wet waste. In most of places public toilets were in pathetic situation. People didn‘t know how to operate the e-toilets. There was paucity of public dustbins. Dogs, monkeys and other pet animals create great problems like they bite, create littering and nuisance. Still there was lack of information and awareness about issues related to water & sanitation among people. Conclusion: All households we should be connected with sewerage lines and there should be improper drainage that need regular maintenance of sewerage lines. Situation of Door to door collection of garbage should be improved by removing the lapses like deficiency of staff, improving transportation and timely collection and disposal of garbage. There is need of proper maintenance and care of public toilets and dustbins. People should be well informed about various state government schemes, water and sanitation issues though extensive IEC