scholarly journals Experimenting with a novel technology for provision of safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh: The case of sub-surface arsenic removal (SAR)

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 161-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debasish Kumar Kundu ◽  
Aarti Gupta ◽  
Arthur P.J. Mol ◽  
Mohammad Moshiur Rahman ◽  
Doris van Halem
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Arsenic Removal ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Novel Technology

scholarly journals Understanding social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in rural Bangladesh: a user-oriented analysis

Water Policy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debasish Kumar Kundu ◽  
Aarti Gupta ◽  
Arthur P. J. Mol ◽  
Mahbuba Nasreen
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Arsenic Removal ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Acceptability ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
The Social ◽  
Tube Well ◽  
Dug Well

Contamination of shallow tube well drinking water by naturally occurring arsenic is a severe societal and human health challenge in Bangladesh. Multiple technological interventions seeking to ameliorate the problem face hurdles in securing social acceptance, i.e. the willingness of users to receive and use a technology. While most papers focus on expert understanding of social acceptability, this paper analyzes how users themselves understand the factors shaping the social acceptability of safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh. We then deploy such understanding to comparatively assess which factors users see as most important in securing social acceptance for three safe drinking water options in rural Bangladesh: the arsenic removal household (Sono) filter; the deep tube well; and an improved dug well. We draw on focus groups and semi-structured interviews with technology users in six villages across three districts to analyze how users assess the social acceptability of specific arsenic-safe technologies. Our findings highlight that factors such as availability, affordability and compatibility with existing water use practices, as understood by users, are key to securing users' acceptance of a specific arsenic-safe option. In concluding, we point to a future research agenda to analyze user-oriented social acceptability of arsenic-safe technologies in developing country contexts.

In pursuit of sustainable water solutions in emerging regions

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura R. Brunson ◽  
Lowell W. Busenitz ◽  
David A. Sabatini ◽  
Paul Spicer
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Market Development ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Water Solutions ◽  
Enabling Environment ◽  
Cultural Assessment

While lack of access to consistent safe drinking water is estimated to affect nearly 2 billion people worldwide, many of the efforts to solve this crisis have proven to be unsustainable. This paper discusses some of the reasons for these challenges and suggests interdisciplinary practices that could be integrated from the very beginning of a water intervention to achieve long-term success. Of key importance for sustainable water implementation is an enabling environment that incorporates aspects such as funding, potential for market development, and supportive governance. While this enabling environment is acknowledged, the focus of this work is on the integration of three key areas: (i) social and cultural assessment of behavior and preferences; (ii) market-based implementation approaches that draw on this knowledge; and (iii) technology development for these markets.

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