treatment plant is set up in Kulai near Ambassa. Most of the rural areas get drinking water from deep tube wells, handpumps, ring wells with a few having overhead water tanks. Many villages need drinking water supplied by tanker in the dry season and 59 such distressed pockets have been identified. Private contractors and government run tanker supply services. Many tribal inhabitations use water from open streams and ponds for drinking, cooking, washing utensils and clothes, and bathing. Water-borne disease diarrhea is common due to mixing of human excreta into drinking water source in many villages. Packaged drinking water of brands "Tribeni", "Eco Freshh", "Blue Fina", "Life Drop" and "Aqua Zoom" among others is consumed in government offices, restaurants etc. Filters of many types and brands, in addition to locally manufactured ceramic filters, are sold although their acceptance in rural areas is less. Halogen tablets are distributed by the administration to reduce microbial content in water, which is sometimes consumed as a medicine directly in some areas or its use discontinued due to the smell it imparts to drinking water. Sanitation Dhalai district has high incidence of open defecation, especially in the interior hilly and forest areas. The district has implemented Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and convergence with MGNREGS to address this problem, with commendable success in difficult areas like Kalyansing village in Gandacherra. Schools and Anganwadi Center are focused on providing urinals and latrines, separate for boys and girls along with baby-friendly toilets in Anganwadi Centers to inculcate the habit of using sanitary latrines at a young age. However, many toilets lie dysfunctional due to lack of maintenance and damage. Earlier schemes of providing free plastic squatting plates has not produced results as most of them lie unused as many people cannot afford to construct a toilet. Open defecation has created problems of diarrhea and vulnerability to malaria. Irrigation Except for the areas near streams and rivers, most of the agriculture is rain-fed. Perennial irrigation is minimal with only barrages, large structures for storing water, being used. Small check dams and ponds built by the local residents and by the government under many programmes and schemes are the source of water for irrigation and other purposes. Efforts are ongoing by the district administration to identify fallow land that can be brought under perennial irrigation with small dams or borewells. Telecommunication The district has landline telephone services