Mankaikadavu fishermen colony is a small community that consists of 100 economically backward families living on the banks of Vembanad lake near Udayamperoor in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Rotary International Cochin Milan with the support of SCMS Water Institute, Kochi had recently conducted a household survey in this colony. The survey found that the semi-saline water from the Vembanad Lake intrudes on the aquifers of Mankaikadavu thereby affecting the quality of groundwater in the area. Survey identified 28 families who neither have a well in their property nor have subscribed to KWA water connection for financial reasons. Most of the families are forced to purchase water that is being sold by the private suppliers in tanker lorries at a hefty price to meet their needs and this imposes a huge financial burden on these families whose livelihood is dependent solely on fishing from Vembanad Lake.

Rotary Club of Cochin Milan has therefore decided to provide purified drinking water to serve the basic water needs of the mentioned 100 families residing at Mankaikadavu fishermen colony such as for drinking and cooking purposes. A detailed design for the water treatment plant and distribution was prepared by SCMS Water Institute and has been submitted to the Rotary Club of Cochin Milan.