Checklist for Rapid Assessment in Emergencies

This checklist can be used as an aide-memoire for rapid WASH assessments.

General 

• How many people are affected (by what) and why? Where are they? How are they distributed? Settled or mobile?
• What are the current or likely water and sanitation-related diseases? 
• Who else is working in WASH and in what capacity?

Water

• How has as availability and use of water been affected by the emergency?
• What is the current drinking water source?  What water source is used for bathing, washing clothes and other domestic use?
• How much water is available per person per day, and do all groups (e.g. men, women, caste’s, etc.) have equitable access to it? How much time do people spend collecting water each day? (Sphere indicator 15L/p/d).
• How much water available at the source. Is it enough for short term and longer term needs? (Sphere indicator flow at each collection point 0.125 l/s & at least 1 water point per 250 people).
• How far are water collection points from where people live? (Sphere indicator , shelter to water point 500m).
• Is the current water supply reliable? What may effect this? How long will it last?
• Who is involved in the management and maintenance of the water sources ?
• Is the water source contaminated or at risk of contamination (microbiological and chemical/radiological)?
  • If so, what is the contaminate? (Sphere indicator not > 10 faecal coliforms per 100ml at collection point)
  • Does livestock have access to water. Is this shared with people and if so does it constitute a health risk to the people
• Is treatment necessary? Is treatment possible? What treatment is necessary?
• Is disinfection necessary, even if supply is not contaminated? If so, why? (Sphere indicator for residual free chlorine 0.2-0.5 mg per litre and  turbidity below 5 NTU, TDS no more than 1000 mg/l)
• What and where are possible alternative water sources?
• What are the legal obstacles, if any, to using available supplies? 
• Is it possible for the population to move if water sources are inadequate? Who makes this decision ?
• What are the key hygiene issues related to water supply e.g?  e.g what are people using to transport water and store it in the household? Do people have enough water containers of the right size and type? (Minimum Standard –each household has 2 10-20 L collecting vessels plus a 20L storage vessel)

Sanitation

Excreta disposal

• What is the estimated population and how are people distributed across the area? (Sphere indicator  – Max 20 people per toilet).
• How have defecation practices changed because of the emergency?  Are the current defecation practices a threat to health . If so, how? (Sphere indicator – latrines > 30m from any ground water source).
• What are the current beliefs and traditions concerning excreta disposal especially regarding women’s habits and attitude towards child excreta? What material/water is used for anal cleansing. Is it available?
• Are there any existing facilities? If so are they used, are they sufficient and are they operating successfully?  Who is involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the facilities?
• Do all groups have equitable access to these facilities? (Sphere indicator – toilets no more than 50m from dwellings or no more than 1 minutes work).   Can they be extended or adapted?
• How do women deal with menstruation? Are there materials or facilities they need for this?
• What  facilities are  available for cleansing hands after defecation?  Are soap and water available ?
• Are both men and women prepared to use: defecation fields, communal latrines or family latrines?
• Is there sufficient space or elevated land (in a flood situation) for defecation fields, pit latrines etc?
• What is the level of the groundwater table? (Sphere indicator – bottom of any latrine pit is > 1.5m above water table).
• What local materials are available for constructing toilets?
• Are there any people familiar with the construction of latrines?
• When does the seasonal rainfall occur?

Solid waste disposal

• Is solid waste a problem?
• How do people dispose of their waste? (Sphere indicator – refuse container 15m from dwelling or 100m from communal refuse pit).
• What type and quantity of solid waste is produced?
• Can solid waste be disposed of on site, or does it need to be collected and disposed of off site? (Sphere indicator – 1 100L refuse container is available per 10 families where 5m from dwelling where refuse must be taken off-site).
• Are there medical facilities and activities producing waste? How is this being disposed of? Who is responsible?
• Is mass burial of human bodies and animals required?

Drainage

• Does surface water, either standing or flowing, pose a risk to peoples health, i.e. by providing breeding grounds to vectors, by contaminating water sources or causing flooding.
• Is there a need for small-scale drainage works around latrines and houses.