Assessment of Physico-chemical Characteristics and Functionality of Existing Potable Water Sources in Disaster Prone Area of South-West Coastal Region in Bangladesh

The people of Bangladesh are dependent mostly on groundwater for their drinking purpose. But due to salinity and arsenic problem in ground water, alternative techniques such as pond sand filters (PSF), rainwater harvesting system (RWH) and protected pond water (PW) are widely been used in saline and arsenic affected areas of southwestern coastal regions of Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the performance and functionality of these technologies at Chalna Paurashova in Dacop subdistrict of Khulna district. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was carried out to get opinion on existing PSFs, RWHs and PWs. A total of 80 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed. Among them 35 samples from PSF users, 20 samples were from RWHs users and 25 samples were from PW users were collected. For laboratory analysis a total of 12 water samples from PSF, RWH and PW were also collected from different parts of Chalna union (Local administrative unit). Laboratory result shows that various chemical parameters have been exceeded the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO) and Bangladesh standards at some sampling points. Survey results show that, RWHs is well maintained and its water is safer than PSF. But this technology is not functional at community level and cannot supply water round the year. About 52.66% RWHs users face water unavailability for about two to five months and that time they have to depend on other water sources. On the other hand, 92.56% PSF users says that, water is available for round the year and PSF technology has more capability to solve year round water crisis at that rural community level. People in this area also said that lower cost of RWHs and good maintenance of PW also helps minimize water crisis. Their opinion similarly shows that these technologies are socially accepted. This study could be helpful for developing policy makers to detect better path of alternative water resource for coastal people who are facing scarcity of drinking water.