Government and non-governmental organisations have been installing water supply facilities to solve the drinking water crisis in Bangladesh. However, the facilities are distributed unevenly. Therefore, this study examined the reasons of bias in water supply facility locations. Field surveys were conducted in 2023 in a village comprising four settlements (North, South, West and East) on the southwest coast of Shyamnagar Upazila; these settlements are facing saline intrusion into groundwater and surface water. The survey found that eight water supply facilities have been constructed in the village. Five facilities are located in South Settlement, which has the largest population and borders surrounding villages where there are schools, markets and crab farms (the main industry in the region), although one is under construction and four have been abandoned. North and East Settlements, which are situated along a river and frequently affected by floods, contain three facilities, two of which has been broken because of the cyclone in 2009. West Settlement, which has the fewest inhabitants and is also vulnerable to flooding, has never had a facility. This study suggests that the location and population of settlements and villages are significant factors in the establishment of water supply facilities and those in disadvantaged areas are often left without potable water. Therefore, this study concludes that a universal drinking water supply is required to ensure all people have access to clean drinking water, regardless of location.

Authors:
Shota Yamada, Rikkyo University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Shota Yamada is a research fellow (PD) of JSFS belonging to College of Intercultural Communication, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan. His research interest is on drinking water and development in Bangladesh especially in southwest coastal regions.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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