Technologies for Adaptation: An Inventory and SWOT Analysis of Water Supply Options

Along The South Western Coastal Region of Bangladesh Suffering From Acute Salinity

Problem

CCTC 2013 Paper Number #1569697101

Dr. Md. Sirajul Islam, Dr. Niaz Mohammad

1Department of Environmental Science and Management (DESM), North South University,

Dhaka, Bangladesh

2Project Management Specialist, PHNE, USAID, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

An inventory study and SWOT analysis of all the available water supply options along the

salinity affected coastal region of Bangladesh was done particularly concentrating on the

factors like complexity of the technology, convenient in operation, quantity and quality of the

supplied water and financial viability. Effectiveness of present management options were also

analyzed among public, private and community based approach. Community based

management option founds to be the most effective one. At the later part of the study, some

suggestions for further improvement of the technologies, operational efficiency and

management options were made.

Keywords: Coastal zone, Salinity, Water supply options, SWOT, Community based management.

Resume

Un inventaire et une analyse FFPM (forces, faiblesses, possibilités, menaces) des solutions disponibles

d’alimentation en eau, ainsi que de la région côtière du Bangladesh affectée par la salinité, ont été

effectués en mettant surtout l’accent sur des paramètres comme la complexité de la technologie, la

facilité d’exploitation, la quantité et la qualité de l’eau fournie ainsi que la viabilité financière. L’efficacité

des solutions de gestion utilisées dans les domaines public, privé et communautaire a également fait

l’objet d’une analyse. La solution de gestion utilisée dans le domaine communautaire est considérée

comme étant la plus efficace. La dernière partie de l’étude contient quelques suggestions d’amélioration

des technologies, de l’efficacité en exploitation et de solutions de gestion.

Mots-clés : zone côtière, salinité, solutions d’alimentation en eau, FFPM, gestion faisant appel à la

communauté

1. Introduction

Bangladesh, a low-lying deltaic floodplain country, is supposed to be one of the most severely

affected countries in the world due to climate change. One meter rise in sea level may inundate

around 17% of the country along the coastal region. Being located at the peak of a funnel-

shaped ocean system Bay of Bengal, the coastal region of Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to

cyclonic storm surges as well. Along the coastal zone, effect of sea level rise is already evident.

In addition to this, human interventions as upstream withdrawal of water along the Ganges,

excess withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation and commercial production of shrimp – all

these aggravated the situation already. The south-west part of the country, known as Ganges

Dependent Area (GDA), is the most affected region. Around 12 million people along 9 districts

are severely in shortage of freshwater, where almost all freshwater sources including surface

and groundwater are contaminated with salinity level beyond acceptable limit.

This study investigated the extent of the problem first, i.e. the level of contamination along

different districts and its impact on public health. It is found that the impact is extended over a

large area leaving severe impact on public health. During the implementation of the WSS

Coastal belt project, it was reported that high salinity was observed in may tube wells, where as

the recommended Bangladeshi drinking water limits is 600 mg/l. For coastal areas of

Bangladesh chloride content upto 1000 mg/l is allowed for use. As a result, many tube wells had

to abandon due to high salinity. In fact, after the super cyclone AILA, the water supply situation

has become grave and the existing situation of water supply is really appealing to understand

the situation. It is therefore very important to innovate and test the alternative water options

along with its social acceptability and adaptability. The region already started to adopt many of

the low cost water supply options.

To adapt to the changing condition, Bangladesh government as well as a large number of NGOs

and international humanitarian organizations has taken initiatives in providing drinking water

along the region. Initiatives include rooftop rainwater harvesting, rainwater preserved in ponds

and filtered adopting indigenous technology like Pond Sand Filter (PSF), groundwater recharged

with freshwater, small desalination plant, or pipe-water supply from freshwater pocket sources,

etc.

A detail inventory of all the available water supply options along the region is made as part of

the study. At the later stage a SWOT analysis is done on each of the technologies particularly

concentrating on the factors like complexity of the technology, convenient in operation,

quantity and quality of the supplied water and financial viability. Rainwater harvesting founds

to be an option suitable in terms of financial viability, while still able to provide adequate

amount of water with acceptable quality. Effectiveness of present management options were

also analyzed among public, private and community based approach. Community based

management option founds to be the most effective one. At the later part of the study, some

suggestions for further improvement of the technologies, operational efficiency and

management options will be made. More districts will be added in the study in future as well.

2. Methodology

The study conducted along three highly affected coastal districts of Bangladesh Satkhira,

Khulna and Bagerhat. The research design consisted of literature review, extensive field visits

along the affected areas to understand the present salinity and water availability scenarios, and

semi-structured interviews with consumers, maintenance operators, management authorities in

the study area, and policy makers at the national level.

Field visits included about 7 days stay at the coastal areas in November 2011.The field work

was initiated by a workshop in October held with relevant stakeholders. The fieldwork in coastal

areas was mainly used for investigation of basic information and listing an inventory of those

existing water supply facilities there and investigating their present performances. The

questionnaires were design to cover the issues as Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and

Threat, i.e. SWOT analysis. The authors conducted interviews with different key informants as

natives, water users, operators, experts from Local Govt Ministry, DPHE and environment and

others. Most interviews were journalized. The authors contacted various service providers and

research organizations to receive information on salinity scenarios and desalination plants as

well.

3. Study Area

The study area is situated in Shamnagaer in Satkhira & Morrel Gong Bagerhat and Khulna in

the southwest region of Bangladesh. The topography of the study area varies from 0.08 m to

4.57 m above mean sea level. The study area is criss-crossed by tidal rivers. These rivers are

hydraulically connected to the underlying alluvial aquifer system. The study area is in a humid

climate with an annual rainfall ranging from 1500 to 2200 mm along which 80% of the annual

rainfall occurring in the rainy season ( may – sept. ). Input to the aquifer system occurs mainly

as natural recharge from rainfall. Following topography, the flow in the aquifer and the rivers is

towards the Bay of Bengal in the south. The hydrological system of the southwest region has

been investigated by the Ground Water Hydrology Circle (GWHC) of Bangladesh water

Development Board (BWDB) which shows that the subsurface formation consists of a top silt

layer (2-40 m thick) followed by a mixed fine and medium sand layer (20-100 m thick) lying on a

relatively coarser layer of medium and coarse sand (30-140 m thick). Most of the shallow wells

pump from the upper fine and medium sand layer.

4. Literature Review :

Review of secondary data was done through the study of different reports published by relevant

govt institutions & other agencies which includes:

Study on water tables in Bangladesh: Department of Public Health Engineering, DPHE

Rainfall data of Bangladesh: Bangladesh Water Development Board, Flood Forecasting

and Warning Centre

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project : Bangladesh Ministry of Water Resources

Centre for Advance Studies: Impact of saline Water Intrusion in Coastal Areas

CEGIS journal papers

Ministry of Environment & Forest – Bangladesh Climate Updates

Proceedings of National Water and Sanitation Technology Sharing workshop

Review of Different Technological Options ( GOB – Danida )

National Strategy for Water and Sanitation for Hard to Reach Areas

5. Data collection

The data collection took place over one week in the October, 2011. Prior to starting the

research, the team held a formal meeting with key stakeholders. To help identifying the uses of

different water technology options NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply, GoB – Danida

Programme helped locating the sites. With help of the list, the researcher, the assistant and a

local staff members from NGO Forum & GoB Danida drove to the different locations of

Satkhira, Bagerhat & Khulna Regions and from there a SWOT analysis was done through using

the questionnaire, FGD and KII in different user groups with the help of the implanting partner of

GOB Danida & NGO Forum projects. SWOT analyses of different water technology schemes

conducted in Kolaroa, Sharankhola, two in Satkhiara, two in Khulna & three for Bagerhat

including KII done in DPHE,NGO Forum & GoB Danida Staffs (See map in Annex)……….

After identifying and getting permission from the head of the user groups, the team explained

the background and the objective of the study to the participant orally by reading the consent

form, which participants then signed. Participants who had difficulty understanding the study

obtained help from a local guide or the local NGO staffs. Most interviews were conducted

beside the water facilities, because this was the only place where they can show different

aspects of maintaining these facilities and difficulties including limitations of these technologies.

Female participants were encouraged to take part regarding problems in collecting water as

because usually village women are responsible for water collection in rural Bangladesh. Some

interviews were conducted in the regional offices of NGO Forum, GOB Danida Office, which

made it more difficult to get answered by the local responded alone.

For in-depth interviews a checklist was prepared by the researcher, translated into

Bangla by the research assistant (RA) and pretested by the RA with 2 women and revised

accordingly before beginning formal data collection. All interviews were conducted in Bangla by

the RA who followed a pre-determined check-list and the researcher observed the interaction.

Answers and observations were selectively noted on the checklist and in a field book. Results

were discussed directly after the interview and in the evening of the same day. Interviews

lasted a maximum of one hour as most of the participants answers were very brief and many

women expressed their opinion about technicalities & operational features. Informal discussions

were conducted when the opportunity arose.

To obtain a broader picture and be able to compare and contrast the statements,

informal discussions and observation were conducted. For informal discussion some women

groups were also invited.

6. Field Visit

Available Water Supply Options visited in the study area are listed below;

• Pond Sand Filters (Shoronkhola, Bagerhat NGO Forum)

• Pond sand filters with solar pumps ( Oxfam, DPHE ,Assasuni )

• Solar powered piped water supply ( Oxfam, DPHE Monirampur )

• RDA Piped Water Schemes (Aichgati, Rupsha, Khulna)

• SIDKO Water Treatment Plants (Aichgati, Rupsha, Khulna)

• GTZ Surface Solar Water Treatment Plant ( Sharankhola,Bagerhat )

• Community based RWHA ( NGO Forum Bagerhat, Mongla )

• Arsenic Iron Removal Plant (Rishilpi office campus, Satkhira)

• Desalination plant /Reverse osmosis – Sigma Corporation Bagherhat

• Desalination plants – Dhaka Ahsania Mission ( Kolaroa ,Baksha )

• Aquifer recharge ( ASR,ASTR,called MAR ) – Satklhira,Assasuni

7. SWOT Analysis of the Available Technological options:

1. Pond Sand Filter Using Solar Energy : Location Assasuni, Satkhira, Oxfam &

DPHE

Merits:

•Locally available materials

•No Chemical treatment required

•Huge number family can be served

•Surface water is available for longer

period of time in a pond

Demerits:

•The prevalence of fish culture is high in pond

•Surface water in Bangladesh is high turbid in

both dry and rainy seasons

•Bacteria removed success is not satisfactory

•The efficiency relies on the location of sun and

seasonal variation

•Solar system providers do not have offices and

2. Desalination Plant : SIDKO & Voltea, Kolaroa, Dhaka Ahsania Mission

Merits:

•Clear and arsenic free water of better

quality

•Sufficient Water

•Easy to get water

Demerits:

•Clogging of iron in the media

•Costly and high O&M costly

•Filter Media not available in the market

•Sometime sludges not disposed off

hygienically

Production Capacity: 10000 Litre

Economy: No operation Cost, Only maintenance cost, which was

supported by community.

Efficiency:

Effectiveness: As per geological condition & requirements of safe water,

it was cost effected & sustainable alternative water

option for this community.

.

3. Rain Water Harvesting: NGO Forum

Production Capacity : 20 Litre per Hour

Social : large group people can be benefittted

Technological : Sustainable.

Economical: Costly to maintenance

Merits:

• Easy technology

• Sufficiently Pure and safe water

• Construction materials are available in

Bangladesh

• The community people accept

Rainwater

• In some areas of Bangladesh rainfall is

good

Location :

Bagerhat Sharnakhola

Implemented by a Local NGO

Supported by NGO forum

4. Piped Water Scheme, HYSAWA-AusAID, Satkhira,Khulna

Merits:

•Safe water round the day.

•Extremely users friendly and gender unbiased

•Can get the water by opening the tap

•Employment generation

•Many business models are working & sustainable.

•Water can be ensured as per need

•Social prestige increase

Demerits:

•It takes long period to implement.2 years more

required

•Contractors problem, do not use banking system

•Cost is high

•Needs community mobilization

Demerits:

•Required clean roof to collect water

•Skilled mason required

•Depends on rains fall

•Chance of secondary infection

5. Desalination plant in Assasuni , Satkhira, DPHE

Merits:

•Scientifically sound & modern technology

•Large volume of safe water supplies to meet the

demand of the village

•Commercial viability exists

•Sustainability can be ensured

•Climate resilient and applicable for coastal areas

where salinity is a major problem

Demerits:

•Highly technical and complicated

•Capital cost is high

•O&M cost is high

•Community management is difficult

•Needs Institutional support for O&M

Production Capacity: 30,000 Litre.

Economy: Per litre price of Water (80/- per

month for individual HH)

6. Piped Water Supply using surface water with Solar Technology : Sharankhola, GIZ

Production Capacity : 5000 liters / day

Economy : 5/- per Kolosh (15 Liter)

Merits :

•Context Specific water facility for coastal areas

where fresh water resource is limited

•Using surface water from river and water

available round the year

•Low maintenance cost no need for electricity bill

•Management committee is in place

•Safe water not hampering the ground water table

Demerits:

•Sustainability of Management Committee

•Supply driven not business oriented

•Capital cost is high

•Need institutional support for O&M

•Trained caretaker is needed for continued

operation

7. Ground Water Recharge using Surface Water : Assasuni,Satkhira,ACASIA,Dhaka

University

Merits :

•New Technology with less cost in

Coastal zone

•Scope for wider scaling and efficient

use of surface & rain water

•Accepted by the community peoples

and local administration

•Materials available locally and unit

cost of production is less

Demerits :

•Drilling needs under supervision of hydro geologist

and engineers

•Relatively new concept still in study phase

•There are some fixed criteria’s for site selection,

Location : Assasuni

Satkhira,Bagerhat

Production capacity : 2000 litre / day

Population coverage : 2,000 HHs

A research project of Dhaka University,

8. Surface Water Treatment Plant : Monrreal gong by NGO – RUNNER

Merits :

•Context specific water supply options

based on availability of water

•Using pond water for treatment

•Locally owned and locally managed

•Less technical and simplified

•Cost is less

•Commercially viable

Demerits:

• Maintaining water quality of the pond

•Finding a large pond for water storage

•Design needs modifications for people’s

confidence building

Location :

Morrelgong Bagerhat

Implemented by a local NGO Runner

Production Capacity 3000 Liter/ day

Cost : 7,00,000 BDT

Sailing price 20 liter – 5 BDT

9. Desalination plant by Sigma Corporation at Bagerhat – Fish Processing Firm

Merits:

•Scientifically sound & modern technology

•Large volume of safe water supplies to

meet the demand of the village

•Commercial viability exists

•Sustainability can be ensured

•Cost benefit analysis possible

Demerits:

•Highly technical and complicated

•Capital cost is high

•O&M cost is high

Location:

Bismillah Shrimp Company, Bagerhat

Supplier – Sigma Corporation

Production Capacity – 2000 Litre / Day

8. Economic Feasibility

A gross comparison of economic feasibility of different systems is listed below.

Category Production

Capacity

Installation

cost

Maintenan

ce

Design

Life

Aquifer

Recharge

2000 litre/

day

7,00,000 2,00,000 7 years

Solar pond

sand filter

10000 Liter 7,00,000 2,00,000 5 years

Piped water

Scheme -

HYSAWA

30,000 /h

60,00,000 6,00,000 7 years

Solar Piped 10000 liters 34,00,000 7,00,000 5 years

water

Scheme -

Oxfam

per day

Desalination

– Reverse

osmosis

5000 liters

per day

70,00,000 7,00,000 7 years

Surface

Water

Treatment

Plant

3000 liter

per day

10,00,000 2,00,000 5 years

SIDKO –

CAD

Technology

20 litre /

hour

15,00,000 5,00,000 5 years

Rain water

Harvesting

3200 liter 7 years

9. Management Option

During field visit, different types of management practices were found. These include community based

management, commercial, local authority, NGO run, etc. In most cases some sort of subsidies were

there like the local authority or NGOs established the water supply facility which later managed by

community, and a token amount is charged to users for maintenance of the facility. In two places,

authority tried to recover the cost with higher charge to check whether it a viable commercially or not.

Involvement of community, i.e. community based management of those water supply facilities were

preferred by most of the respondents. If the supporting agency help train the community regarding the

technical matters, that will be very useful. Involvement of women is still low, which needs to be

increased. Awareness programs should be there to preserve those ponds or lakes, from where water is

collected for treatment facilities like Pond Sand Filter (PSF). Slowly the maintenance charge should be

increased as because to sustain the system, community must have enough fund to take the

responsibility of maintaining it fully. The better the fund condition the better the possibility of

sustainability of the system.

10. Conclusion

This study investigated the present condition of the water supply situation along the salinity affected

south-western part of Bangladesh. Extensive field visits were done to a large number of facilities.

Suitability of the systems were analyzed and management options as well. Freshwater availability along

the south-western part is depleting day by day so that almost everyday new facilities are being built

there. It is high time to concentrate on the issue, i.e. which method of supplying water is viable. As an

easily available technology but still capable of providing water of adequate quality, PSF (Pond Sand

Filter) found to be mostly attractive to local people. Maintenance cost there is moderate as well. It is

better then traditional rainwater harvesting as because pond can store more water. Community based

management option was preferred by most of the respondents again. Further investigation is required

covering larger area along with a detail cost-benefit analysis and sustainable business plan.

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