Rural drinking water supply and sanitation in Bangladesh : a case study of Satkhira, South-Western District (Khulna Division) | |
| Author | Iqbal, Shaheed |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-04-27 |
| Subject(s) | Drinking water--Sanitation--Bangladesh Sanitation, Rural--Bangladesh Water-supply, Rural--Sanitation--Bangladesh |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-04-27 |
| Abstract | The study was conducted with the main objective to investigate the existing conditions of drinking water supply and sanitation in three villages situated in three upazilas (Subdistrict) representing geographical as well as socio-economic diversity of Satkhira district, Khulna division (south-western region of Bangladesh). Thereby main typical types of villages were studied and these are thought to represent the overall rural drinking water supply & sanitation situation in 52,391 villages of the rural (72 million inhabitants) Bangladesh. The study reviewed (through formal questionnaires) on-going activities, achievements and identified problems and constraints in the sector. It found that due to arsenic contamination, the rural drinking water supply coverage is only 23%. This proved to be a much lower figure compared to the officially reported figures for national, south-western regional and district coverage (72%, 65% and 60% respectively). It was also found that arsenic-affected people were mainly from the very low-income group. Approximately 92% people in the study areas were found to live below poverty line. In most cases, malnutrition (not balanced diet), poor socio-economic conditions, illiteracy, food habits, drinking of arsenic-contaminated water and microbiologically unsafe pond water were observed to be the main reasons for skin (51 %) and diarrhoeal diseases (74%) in the study area (obtained through formal and informal interviews). It was also found in the informal interviews that villagers were not concerned about the severity and ultimate affects of arsenic contamination. Hence, building awareness and drinking safe & arsenic-free water will ease the consequences. Arsenic removal techniques and alternative options for arsenic free water were reviewed and the best available methods were suggested for the villagers in terms of the provision of safe drinking water. It was found in the study area (through the formal questionnaires) that 36% families had an own latrine (including 28% pit and 8% sanitary latrines) while 64% did not have proper sanitation. It was also established through interviews that 5% of families, while defecating, share their neighbor's latrine and 12% of families defecate in the open land including rice fields and forests. 9% of families had hanging and 38% used homemade latrines (both are not considered proper latrines). The coverage by latrine sanitation thereby was shown to be lower than officially reported figures for national, south-western regional and district coverage (43%, 49% and 45% respectively) of rural areas. As a result of the above mitigation of the water-related health impacts has proven to be negligible due to the low coverage by the latrine-based sanitation and poor recognition of the linkages between clean water supply, sanitation and good personal hygiene practices. Motivation work should be done among the village people to convince them of the need for hygienic sanitary latrines. On the other hand, much more work should be done in the villages so that every family member used the sanitary latrines already present (but not cmTently utilized). Overall it was found that official figures for drinking water supply and sanitation appear to significantly overestimate success of the governmental and NGO related efforts. Recommendations were also put forward with a view to mitigation of the existing problems. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. EV-04-27 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Amin, .A.T.M. Nurul; Thammarat Koottatep |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |