Development Activities for Drinking Water Supply in Coastal Village of Bangladesh: Focusing on Features of Water Facilities

Abstract

This paper focused on the drinking water crisis in rural Bangladesh, especially in terms of salinity. It aims to reveal (1) the outcomes of drinking water facilities provided by development agencies and (2) the factors necessary for the sustainable usage of the drinking water facilities provided by development agencies. To achieve these objectives, a field survey was conducted in a village in Shyamnagar Upazila. This study recognized pond sand filters (hereinafter: PSFs) as small-scale and single-household-managed water facilities and pipelines as large-scale and multiple-household-managed water facilities. This study found 16 PSFs were constructed at private and public ponds, and one pipeline was constructed at a public pond, with more than 10 taps set up on village roads. However, nine PSFs, including all those erected at public ponds, were abandoned due to a cyclone and difficulties in co-management. The pipeline was abandoned due to water shortages, poor maintenance, and non-payment of user fees. Therefore, this study focused on location and the management committee to ensure sustainable water facility use. It concluded small-scale and single-household-managed water facilities should be located at private ponds where maintenance initiatives can be easily executed, and taps from large-scale and multiple-household-managed water facilities should be located on private land. Moreover, this study concluded a management committee should be established for both types of water facilities. However, their contribution to large-scale and multiple-household-managed facilities will be higher than their contribution to small-scale and single-household-managed facilities. The role of the management committee for small-scale and single-household-managed facilities is to make rules for using the facilities and rules should be handed down to the next committee (owners and users) when the previous one dissolves. However, the management committee for large-scale and multiple-household-managed facilities should not be dissolved and continuance of management committee will contribute to sustainable use of the facilities.