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Community Level Planning for Arsenic Contaminated Drinking Water in Bangladesh

Sho SHIBATA*
Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University ,Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan,

Kiyoko HAGIHARA
Bukkyo University, 96, Kitahananobo-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8301 ,Japan,

Yoshimi HAGIHARA
Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan,

Akira SAKAI
University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences, 3-1,Gakuennishi-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2188, Japan,

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Recently, arsenic contamination of drinking water has become a serious problem in rural areas of Bangladesh. Arsenic causes skin disease, cancers, and in the worst case, death. Bangladesh has suffered many kinds of disasters such as cyclones, floods, droughts, and damage caused by salt. So, Bangladesh is considered a fragile area for arsenic problems. In 1993, arsenic contamination was first found in the ground water from shallow tube-wells in Bangladesh. Since the revelation of arsenic contamination, various safe water options have been introduced to supply drinking water. However, some of them have already been abandoned because of a lack of knowledge of proper use, difficulties of maintenance, bad taste of water, and stress of collecting water. The options are not acceptable for local residents without consideration of their social environments and support after introduction .The purpose of this study aims to plan acceptable processes to install safe water options for the disaster of arsenic contaminated drinking water considering local social environment in Bangladesh

Keywords: Arsenic contaminated, Safe water options, Acceptability, Stress, Multi-criteria

Location: Basailbogh village in Srinagar upazila, Munshiganji district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Arsenic

Objectives:

The purpose of this study aims to plan acceptable processes to install safe water options for disaster of arsenic contamination of drinking water considering local social environment in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The research area was decided considering the situation of arsenic contamination and cost of survey. In this study Basailbogh village in Srinagar upazila, Munshiganji district was selected as the research area. Areas affected by arsenic in Bangladesh and the place of Srinagar. Basailbogh is located about one hour by car along the main road from capital Dhaka. In the rainy season, the village is divided into some islands by flooding and boats and bamboo bridges are used to move around. One island forms a community with several related families. This community is called Bari. There are 21 baris in this village.

The questionnaire is constructed by KJ method and ISM (Interpretive Structural Modeling) method. The items of the questionnaire consist of personal data, drinking water, sanitation, and daily life. In August and September 2007 the interview survey was carried out with corporation of JADE (Japan Association of Drainage and Environment) and SPACE (Society for People’s Action in Change and Equity). The number of samples is 118, out of 123 families in Basailbogh village.

Almost 100% of shallow tube-wells are arsenic contaminated in this village and the main safe water option is deep tube-wells (DTWs). In December 2007, safe water options were 3 public DTWs, 4 private DTWs, and 2 private family size Arsenic Iron Removal Plants (AIRP) in this village. Although everyone can use public options, private options owners limit usage and 30 families, 25% of the total still drink arsenic contaminated STW. The situation of safe water options is advanced in Basailbogh village. Compared with other areas, the number of DTWs is many and some families introduced options by themselves. But the fact that 25% families still drink arsenic contaminated STW in this developed village for safe water options should not be overlooked.

Previous studies clarified that collecting water is a big burden for local residents and reduction of this is acceptable processes for them. In this chapter, the burden of collecting water is modeled and evaluated. Stress of collecting water is defined as 2 types, physical and psychological. In Bangladesh, collecting water is women’s work. They carry 18 – 20 liters water at once. They do not like to be exposed to men’s eyes except their relatives for religious reasons. Physical stress is defined as the amount of workload. Psychological stress is defined as time to collect water (time to be exposed to someone’s eyes). The route of water collecting is changed by seasons. Although they can go anywhere through the road in the dry season, the land surface is flooded and some residents must use boats or bamboo bridges to move in the rainy season. Stress of collecting water is modeled in both seasons and water measured for each family.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agric. and Environ. 1 (2): 61-69, December 2005, ISSN:1816-0808

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In this study adaptive processes to install safe water options were shown. The social environment and water supply was clarified by social survey. Water collecting stress was modeled and evaluated quantitatively. It showed that there were three objects, village, bari, and family on the process from a local water supply situation. Safe water options were assessed by concordance analysis and RWH for family and DTW were selected as acceptable options for a local resident. Finally, the acceptable processes to install safe water options were shown and mentioned that there were 3 stages on introduction of safe water options.

This study showed the adaptive processes without precondition and feasibility. In fact to install safe water options for every bari or family impossible. So more practical processes are needed to achieve third stage with medium – long term viewpoint.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings