Assessment of rainwater harvesting for drinking water supply in Bangladesh

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Karim

Rainwater harvesting is a potential option of water supply to the coastal and arsenic affected rural communities in Bangladesh and during the last few years, several projects were undertaken to promote and install various types of rainwater harvesting systems by government organizations and NGOs mainly for drinking and cooking water supply. A study was undertaken to assess the currently practiced rainwater harvesting systems located in the south west coastal and arsenic affected areas in the country. A total of 1,000 rainwater-harvesting systems were investigated using structured questionnaires; among them 14.8% were community based and 85.2% were household rainwater harvesting systems. The results of this assessment are presented in this paper. Availability of the harvested rainwater, operation, storage and maintenance of community based rainwater harvesting and ensuring water quality to meet the drinking water standard are the important issues that must be addressed properly. A protocol for the operation and maintenance according to WHO guideline can be adopted for the safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting in the country.

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Rezaul Karim

Several programs have been undertaken during the last few years to install rooftop rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative drinking water supply source both in the coastal and arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh. In this study, quality of the harvested rainwater used for drinking water supply was assessed. A total of 308 harvested rainwater samples were collected from the different storage reservoirs located both in coastal and arsenic affected areas and analysed for various physical, chemical and microbial indicators. Most of the physical and chemical water quality parameters were well below the Bangladesh Drinking Water Standard and WHO guideline values. However, the harvested rainwater was found microbiologically contaminated to some extent and the water is not suitable for consumption without treatment. For safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting, WHO guideline and water safely plan (WSP) can be adopted in Bangladesh.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 215-223
Author(s):  
MA Rahman ◽  
MA Ali ◽  
T Ahmed ◽  
ME Habib ◽  
MS Hossain

Widespread groundwater arsenic contamination in south, south-western and north-eastern regions and high salinity in the south-western coastal region are the two major challenges for drinking water supply in Bangladesh. In this study, we assessed various water supply technologies used for mitigating arsenic and salinity in Laksam of Cumilla and Assasuni of Satkhira district. Water samples were analyzed for Arsenic, Iron, Chloride (indicator for salinity) and FC from different water extraction systems (shallow, deep and Tara tubewells), groundwater arsenic treatment units (SIDKO and READ-F), rainwater harvesting systems (RWH), pond sand filters (PSF), and managed aquifer recharge units. Most shallow tubewells, both in Laksam and Assasuni, have been found to produce arsenic contaminated water. But water from deep and Tara tubewells have been found arsenic-free, though high concentration of iron was observed in the wells in Laksam. Rainwater harvesting systems, PSF and MAR units in Assasuni have been found to provide water free from the common chemical contaminants but suffer from high bacterial contamination. Deep tubewell appear to be the most preferred option where a suitable aquifer is available. The community-scale groundwater treatment systems would require strong operation and maintenance support from the service providers to be successful. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 12(1&2): 215-223, 2019


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2085
Author(s):  
Zuleikha Pembe-Ali ◽  
Tulinave Burton Mwamila ◽  
Mesia Lufingo ◽  
Willis Gwenzi ◽  
Janeth Marwa ◽  
...  

There is escalating salinity levels on small islands due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction. Conventionally, this challenge is addressed by adopting optimal groundwater pumping strategies. Currently, on Unguja Island (Zanzibar), urban freshwater is supplied by desalination, which is expensive and energy-intensive. Hence, desalinization cannot be afforded by rural communities. This study demonstrates that the innovative Kilimanjaro Concept (KC), based on rainwater harvesting (RWH) can remediate seawater intrusion in Unguja, while enabling a universal safe drinking water supply. The reasoning is rooted in the water balance of the whole island. It is shown that if rainwater is systematically harvested, quantitatively stored, and partly infiltrated, seawater intrusion will be reversed, and a universal safe drinking water supply will be secured. Water treatment with affordable technologies (e.g., filtration and adsorption) is suggested. The universality of KC and its suitability for small islands is demonstrated. Future research should focus on pilot testing of this concept on Unguja Island and other island nations.


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 2129-2135 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Karim

Rooftop rainwater harvesting has received an increased attention as a potential alternative water supply source both in the coastal and arsenic affected rural areas in Bangladesh. Several programs in installing rainwater harvesting systems have been implemented to mitigate the drinking water problem in the coastal and arsenic affected areas in the country. This study was conducted with a view to assess sanitary integrity, microbial contamination and the associated health risk of the currently practiced rooftop rainwater harvesting mainly used for drinking water supply. Sanitary inspection of the rainwater harvesting systems and an extensive sampling of harvested rainwater from the storage reservoirs and laboratory analysis were conducted. The study findings reveal that harvested rainwater was found to microbiologically contaminated to some extend. The disease burden estimated using QHRA model showed a significant microbial health burden associated with drinking untreated rainwater and both viral and bacterial pathogens dominate the microbial disease burden. In context of arsenic mitigation, rainwater harvesting reduces the health risk from arsenic; however it may increase the microbial disease burden much higher than the level of arsenic health risk at 50 μg/L of Bangladesh standard. Microbial risk needs proper attention through the implementation of a water safety plan for safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting in Bangladesh.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1110-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongkyun Kim ◽  
Mooyoung Han ◽  
Julius Kabubi ◽  
Hong-Gyoo Sohn ◽  
Duc-Canh Nguyen

This paper uses pragmatic findings and lessons learned from three case studies to deduce that community-based rainwater harvesting (CB-RWH) is an innovative solution to develop sustainable drinking water supply systems in developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia. Taking advantage of traditional community-based activities in African and Asian villages, the water supply system can be significantly improved with the introduction and implementation of CB-RWH systems. Furthermore, sustainable, safe water sources in Africa and Asia can be brought to fruition when transparent self-regulatory management systems are supported through comprehensive design and maintenance guidelines and funded from private and public sources. To this end, the potential for CB-RWH to lead toward greater resilience and sustainability was investigated. Based on case studies of three successful demonstration projects in Africa and Asia, this paper identifies 14 innovative solutions resolving technical, economic, and social problems which have been barriers preventing the wide implementation of CB-RWH in developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia. It also recommends strategies to promote CB-RWH in African and Asian villages, which include the following: implementation of more pilot projects at local levels; promotion of and education in rainwater preservation and harvesting at all levels of the education system; and innovation in micro-funding systems in cooperation with corporate social responsibility activities. These strategies will promote the implementation of CB-RWH as a mainstream and high-priority technique for national, regional, and global water strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Atikul Islam ◽  
Hiroyuki Sakakibara ◽  
Md. Rezaul Karim ◽  
Masahiko Sekine ◽  
Zahid Hayat Mahmud

This study was conducted to assess the bacteriological quality of alternative drinking water supply options in southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. A total of 90 water samples were collected during both dry and wet seasons from household based rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs), community based rain water harvesting systems (CRWHSs), pond-sand filters (PSFs) and ponds. The samples were evaluated for faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Heterotrophic Plate Count, as well as Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, and color) were also examined. In addition, sanitary inspections were conducted to identify faecal contamination sources. All options showed varying degrees of indicator bacterial contamination. The median E. coli concentrations measured for RWHSs, CRWHSs, PSFs, and ponds were 16, 7, 11, and 488 cfu/100 ml during the wet season, respectively. Vibrio cholerae O1/O139, Salmonella and Shigella spp. were not found in any samples. However, Vibrio cholerae Non-O1/Non-O139 and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from 74.4% and 91.1% of the water samples collected during the wet season. A maximum pH of 10.4 was found in CRWHSs. Estimation of the disease burden for all options in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) showed an increased disease burden during the wet season. According to sanitary inspections, poor maintenance and unprotected ponds were responsible for rainwater and PSF water contamination, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that alternative drinking water supply options available in southwest coastal Bangladesh pose a substantial risk to public health.


Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
pp. 1014-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AWATIF M. ABDULSALAM ◽  
INIT ITHOI ◽  
HESHAM M. AL-MEKHLAFI ◽  
ABDULHAMID AHMED ◽  
JOHARI SURIN ◽  
...  

SUMMARYBlastocystisinfection has a worldwide distribution especially among the disadvantaged population and immunocompromised subjects. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the association ofBlastocystisinfection with the socio-economic characteristics among 300 primary schoolchildren, living in rural communities in Lipis and Raub districts of Pahang state, Malaysia. Stool samples were collected and examined for the presence ofBlastocystisusing direct smear microscopy afterin vitrocultivation in Jones' medium. The overall prevalence ofBlastocystisinfection was found to be as high as 25·7%. The prevalence was significantly higher among children with gastrointestinal symptoms as compared to asymptomatic children (x2=4·246;P=0·039). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that absence of a piped water supply (OR=3·13; 95% CI=1·78, 5·46;P<0·001) and low levels of mothers’ education (OR=3·41; 95% CI=1·62, 7·18;P<0·01) were the significant predictors ofBlastocystisinfection. In conclusion,Blastocystisis prevalent among rural children and the important factors that determine the infection were the sources of drinking water and mothers' educational level. Interventions with provision of clean water supply and health education especially to mothers are required.


Desalination ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 243 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 195-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayez A. Abdulla ◽  
A.W. Al-Shareef

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