Drinking Water Problems and Possible Alternatives in Coastal Region of Bangladesh: A Case Study

Mithun Sikder

Abstract


Safe drinking water for the coastal areas of Bangladesh has become a big challenge. Arsenic adulteration and salinity intrusion in surface water body has accelerated the scarcity of water in the coastal region. As situation ameliorating and also investment for water-borne diseases is decreasing, it becomes the major threat for a third-world country like Bangladesh. There are lots of alternatives for water supply but there are also a huge number of constraints. Most of the traditional dug wells (DW), ring wells (RW) and alternative pond sand filters (PSF) are now inoperative due to shortage of fresh surface water body and also adequate maintenance. Except a few, most of the shallow tube wells (STW) and deep tube wells (DTW) in coastal areas face arsenic (As) contamination. There could be a blended solution for these problems based on existing situation, constraint, hydrogeology and individual’s economy. Different kinds of filters, reverse osmosis (RO), solar desalination plants (low-cost and small scale) and fuel-powered desalination plants (high-cost and large scale), etc., would be a good solution for mitigation of these problems. Solar PSF and rain water harvesting (RWH) might be an effective solution for some areas, respectively where fresh water and rainfall is abundant.

Full Text:

PDF

References


WHO. Environmental Health Criteria 224. Arsenic and arsenic compounds. Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, Geneva. 2001.

Khan AW, Ahmad SK, Sayed MH, et al. Arsenic contamination in ground water and its effect on human health with particular reference to Bangladesh. J. Prev. Soc. Med. 1997; 16(1): 65–73p.

Ahmed AU, Alam A. Global circulation modelling and development of future climate scenarios. In: S. Huq, Z. Karim, M. Assaduzzaman, et al., editors. Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change for Bangladesh. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 13–20p.

GoB. Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh. Ahmed MF, Ahmed CM, editors. Local Government Division, Ministry of LGRD & Co-operatives, Government of Bangladesh. 2002.

Hafizi N. Unnecessary and Deadly: The Post-Disaster Catastrophe of Waterborne Diseases. March 1, 2011.

Rahman A, Alam M. Mainstreaming adaptation to Climate Change in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). WP 2: Bangladesh Country Case Study, Nottingham, UK, Russell Press. 2003.

Morgan JP, McIntire WG. Quaternary geology of the Bengal Basin, East Pakistan and India. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 1959; 70: 319–42p.

Hoque M, Hasan MK, Ravenscroft P. Investigation of groundwater salinity and gas problems in southeast Bangladesh. In: Rahman AA, Ravenscroft P, editors. Groundwater Resources and Development in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, University Press Ltd, Dhaka. 2003.

Rus JS. Geohydrological Investigations in Khulna. DPHE Water Supply and Sanitation Projects. DPHE. Netherlands–Bangladesh Development Co-operation Programme. 1985.

Shamsuddin SK. Water supply in coastal region of Bangladesh. M.Sc. Thesis. Loughborough University of Technology, U.K. 1986.

Ahmed MF. Rainwater harvesting potentials in Bangladesh, 25th WEDC Conference Addis Ababa: Integrated Development for Water Supply and Sanitation, Ethiopia. 1999

Ahmed F. Design parameters for rural water supply. M.Sc. Engg. Thesis. Department of civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka. 1981.

Choudhury NI. Use of rain water as domestic water supply in coastal area of Bangladesh, M. Sc. Engg. Thesis. University of Melbourne, Australia. 1985.

Bux KM, Rahman MM. Drinking water supply and sanitation to suit post cyclone situation in coastal region of Bangladesh. Final Report, UNCRD BUET. 1994.

BBS. Statistical Year Book of Bangladesh. Govt. of People’s Republic of Bangladesh. 1991–92.

BUET-BIDS. Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter Program. Final Report, UNDP/World Bank Project BGD/91/025. 1992.

Black M. From Hand Pumps to Health. UNICEF, New York, USA. 1990; 133p.

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh: Media Brief. UNICEF, Bangladesh. 2003.

Bhattacharya P, Frisbie SH, Smith E, et al. Arsenic in the environment: A global perspective. In: Sarkar B, editor. Handbook of Heavy Metals in the Environment. Marcell Dekker, New York. 2002a; 145–215p.

Ahmed KM, Bhattacharya P, Hasan MA, et al. Arsenic contamination in groundwater of alluvial aquifers in Bangladesh: An overview. Appl. Geochem. 2004; 19(2): 181–200p.

Van Geen A, Ahasan H, Horneman AH, et al. Promotion of well-switching to mitigate the current arsenic crisis in Bangladesh. Bull. World Health Organization. 2002; 80(9): 732–7p.

Van Geen A, Cheng Z, Seddique AA, et al. Reliability of a commercial kit to test groundwater for arsenic in Bangladesh. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2005; 39(1): 299–303p.

BGS/DPHE (British Geological Survey/Department of Public Health Engineering). Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh. Technical Report WC/00/19, Keyworth, UK. 2001.

Mukherjee AB, Bhattacharya P. Arsenic in the groundwater in the Bengal Delta Plain: Slow poisoning in Bangladesh. Environ. Rev. 2001; 9: 189–220p.

Nriagu JO, Bhattacharya P, Mukherjee AB, et al. Arsenic in soil and groundwater: an introduction. In: Bhattacharya P, Mukherjee AB, Bundschuh J, et al., editors. Arsenic in Soil and Groundwater Environment: Biogeochemical Interactions, Health Effects and Remediation, Trace Metals and other Contaminants in the Environment. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2007; 93–160p.

Ahmed MF. Alternative water supply options for arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh, ITN-Bangladesh and WSP-South Asia. 2002.

Smith AH, Lingas E, Rahman M. Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: A public health emergency. Bull World Health Organ. 2000; 78: 1093–103p. PMID: 11019458

Kinniburgh DG, Smedley PL, editors. Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh. Keyworth: British Geological Survey; 2001.

DOE. Assessment of vulnerability of coastal areas to sea level rise and other effects of global climate change. Pilot Study for Bangladesh. Report prepared by Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka. 1993.

NAPA (Bangladesh). Formulation of Bangladesh Program of Action for Adaptation to Climate Change Project. 2005.

DPHE and UNICEF. Water supply and sanitation project implementation guideline and specification for the rural areas of the coastal region. 1988-93. 120p.

BRAC. Combating a deadly menace – Early experiences with a community-based arsenic mitigation project in rural Bangladesh. Res. Monogr. Ser. 2000; 16, 1–116.

Rashid H. The geography of Bangladesh. Dhaka: University Press Limited, 1997. 529p.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.3759/jowrem.v1i3.1811

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.