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Safe Water Access, Motivation and Community Participation at Arsenic Affected Rural Area of Jessore, Bangladesh: Insights and Realism

Md. Abu Shamim Khan
Environmental Laboratory, Arsenic Center, Asia Arsenic Network, Jessore-7400

Md. Waliullah
Environmental Laboratory, Arsenic Center, Asia Arsenic Network, Jessore-7400

Maruf Hossain
Environmental Laboratory, Arsenic Center, Asia Arsenic Network, Jessore-7400

Bablu Hira Mandal
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), Jessore-7400

Umme Habiba
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), Jessore-7400

M. N. A. Siddique
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), Jessore-7400

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A trace level of arsenic in drinking water is toxic for human body. Ground water arsenic contamination is well known in the world. Arsenic in ground water is a serious health threat in arsenic contaminated areas. Last 20 years, many arsenic mitigation projects have been implemented at arsenic prone areas of Bangladesh. This study investigated the present status of existing integrated arsenic mitigation projects activities. Study was conducted on three village of Jessore district in Bangladesh where more than seven thousand people have been facing arsenic contamination problems in ground water. A total of 600 samples were collected following household survey method. Analysis suggested that slightly over half of the respondents are educated and nearly 42% was engaged with agriculture. 41% and 37% people were known about arsenic and arsenicosis. Arsenic safe, arsenic contaminated and not tested tube wells were 51%, 23% and 26% respectively. It was found that 52% and 46% people were using arsenic safe water from deep tubewell and shallow tubewell which was installed by GOs and NGOs. But it was found that 2% people were still using arsenic contaminated tubewell water. This study found that 70% and 35% people were interested to pay their user share for safe water device installation and its maintenance purpose. People of arsenic prone areas were changing their habit to use arsenic safe water from deep tubewell for saving their lives from arsenicosis diseases. Arsenic mitigation programme motivated arsenic affected people increased their knowledge; hence changed drinking water use practice. Furthermore, this study found that community participation was not enough for safe water system maintenance. But vulnerable areas of arsenic affected people solved their arsenic problem by using arsenic safe water sources and its maintenance by user participation. Arsenic mitigation project activities were given a great benefit for awareness building and sustainable safe water supply.

Keywords: Arsenic, Arsenocosis, Safe water, Community, Awareness

Location: Jhikargachha upazila of Jessore district

Start Date: 00-03-2016

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Arsenic

Objectives:

This study aims to evaluate outcome of arsenic mitigation projects and or activities such as knowledge development on water safety and health, to evaluate practice of using arsenic safe water and maintenance cost sharing through user participation.

Methodology:

Study and survey method: Study area included one upazila of Jessore district, which is the south western part of Bangladesh; Jhikargachha upazila is one of the upazila which is affected by arsenic contamination problem considerably. Jhikargachha upazila has 11unions and one pouroshova. Jhikargachha sadar union has 19 villages, 6107 families, population was 27623 and shallow tubewells were 4373 (NAMIC Data, 2004; JICA and AAN Report, 2015a; JICA and AAN Report, 2015b). At Jhikargachha union average 33% shallow tubewells were arsenic contaminated (JICA and AAN Report, 2015a). Survey was conducted at Sagarpur, Padmapukur and Sreerampur villages at Jhikargachha sadar union. Survey was conducted in March, 2016 for monitoring the present status of previously conducted arsenic mitigation projects activities like operational status, drinking water using pattern, user’s participation, arsenic related knowledge development and behavioral changing etc. Survey was conducted by using household based survey method. Surveyor visited house to house and interviewed with house hold owner for collecting information about arsenic mitigation and water supply related predefined questionnaire. Study was conducted at three villages as random sampling method. For collecting information, survey area was divided into three parts based on the arsenic contamination intensity. During sample collection 600 samples were distributed into three villages according to family members of each village.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Technol. Environ. Inform. 04(01): 260-269| Khanet al. (2016)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.18801/jstei.040116.29

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

During 1993-2015, many organizations conducted arsenic mitigation and water supply projects in these study areas for changing the drinking water status and risk assessment of arsenic contamination in ground water. People from all three villages were highly motivated by awareness related activities. People were aware about to check their tubewell water arsenic safety level and how to get the safe water from arsenic safe deep tube wells or green painted shallow tube well. But user participation practices were not established for safe water supply system development, regular maintenance and water quality monitoring. People were not interested to pay user share for maintenance of safe water supply system. In case of Sagarpur village, user families were motivated and benefited from various arsenic mitigation projects.Sagarpur and Srirampur village 97% and 94% people were access to arsenic safe water for drinking and cooking purpose. The ground water arsenic contamination has become a serious public health problem in Bangladesh. Proper management of arsenic pollution is a challenge for Bangladesh. To combat this gigantic problem, appropriate planning and leadership from the government, non-government organization and active participation of the scientific community, user communities are essential.

Knowledge Management: Journal