Access to potable water for coastal people

The drinking water crisis in the Sundarbans coastal region is chronic. The water in this region is saline almost all the year round. As a result, the people of this region are forced to save rain water and boil the water in the pond and drink that water. Which is very inadequate compared to the need. This water crisis intensifies in the summer. There are cries for water all around. Due to the increase in the frequency of cyclones, the embankments break and saline water from the sea constantly enters the polders. This saline water gets mixed with the water bodies in the villages and water crisis becomes more intensive.

Initiative:Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) has been working since 2015 to alleviate the drinking water crisis in the coastal areas. In the meantime, the pond has been re-excavated and by using local technology pond sand and filter (PSF) system has been installed to collect rain water. Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System has been set up to enhance the quality of water. A community-based sustainable water business model has been introduced for its sustainable and long-term management. Safe water is being supplied to remote areas by vehicles.

Impact: Most of the time the people of the locality used pond water for drinking and cooking purpose. They often suffered from various kinds of water contaminated diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, Jaundice, dysentery etc. Pure drinking water was a cherished desire to them. After installing the Reverse Osmosis System, more than 45000 coastal villagers are getting safe drinking water at a cheap rate which is only 0.5 TK per liter. This little charge is taken for the maintenance cost of water production so that this activity will sustain in the long run process. Besides, BEDS has installed 43 water wells in the Sundarbans coastal area and now we are processing to install 8 more water wells.

Feedbacks from the beneficiaries:A housewife living beside the Coastal region expressed her feelings about tube wells water – “I have two little kids and I cannot not fetch water from distance but now BEDS has installed water wells beside our residence and it is very suitable for me as well as my neighbors.”

We would like to thank all our donors for their amazing and continuous support for the coastal deprived people. We are requesting all our donors to start monthly recurring donation by clicking the following link;

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/support-drinking-water-to-the-poor-coastal-people?show=recurring

Water is a natural resource but safe drinking water is precious for the coastal areas. Safe water service has to be paid for.In Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh, saline water is everywhere with limited fresh water sources. The coastal people have to depend on rainwater. They store water in plastic tank and traditional mud made pots in the monsoon which goes run short by two or three months.

Initiative:Bangladesh Environment and Development Society has been trying to solve safe drinking water for the climate vulnerable underprivileged Sundarbans coastal community since 2015. In this purpose, we have re-excavated 3 ponds and established Solar Pond Sand and filter system. BEDS has installed 3 Reverse Osmosis water purification systems with Water ATM at Dacope and Shyamnagor sub-district. 43 water wells have also been installed. So, more than 55,000 coastal villagers are getting safe drinking water from our service.

Impact: As a result, the 68% people of Sundarbans Coastal area are now getting access to pure drinking water. But this is not sufficient for the large coastal community. Now we are trying to ensure safe drinking water to 100% people of Sundarbans coastal area. Now water contaminated diseases like cholera, dysentery, jaundice etc. are ‍about to disappear from the supported villages.

Feedbacks from the beneficiaries:This is Dhali, I live in Purbo Dhangmari. I earn my livelihood by catching fish and crab from the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. I go to forest for about seven days to catch fish. Most of the time I used pond water and suffered from various kind of water contaminated diseases. But now BEDS has installed RO water purification system at Purbo Dhangmari and I get relax from the water contaminated diseases.

We would like to thank all our donors for their amazing and continuous support for the coastal deprived people. We are requesting all our donors to start monthly recurring donation by clicking the following link;

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/support-drinking-water-to-the-poor-coastal-people?show=recurring