Study on Water Supply and Sanitation Condition of Selected Pourashavas in the Coastal Region

Abstract

In context of water supply condition, the water supply system (WSS) in the four Pourashavas (PSs) namely Bagerhat PS, Barguna PS, Patuakhali PS and Bhola PS under the study area is based on ground water source. In the study area, there is a treatment plant in Barguna PS based on surface water source which is seldom used due to heavy operation cost and only Patuakhali PS serves 24 hours water supply with metering system to measure water consumption. The nos. of present WS connection are 4100, 2110, 2240 and 2545 with the daily quantity of supply water in M3 are 4400, 2550, 2000 and 4550 respectively in the said four Pourashavas. The estimated monthly cost for water consumption is 303 Tk /HH in Patuakhali PS which is 1.5 to 4 times as compared to other three PSs namely Bagerhat, Barguna and Bhola because of metering system. The data and information regarding water supply issues in the study area reflects the practical condition such as the average range of water delivery or consumption is 0.90 to 1.77 M3/HH/day where the highest value is in Bhola PS, the average length of supply pipe 19.97 M/HH, the yearly average increase of water supply connection ranges 6.3% to 14.42% in the area where water supply network is available and the highest value is in Bagerhat PS, the average supply water coverage based on household nos. ranges 13% to 73% and the coverage based on service area ranges 60% to 75% where the highest coverage for both the cases is in Bagerhat Pourashava. The inhabitants without WS connection depend on river, pond, community hand tube well (H1W) or own HTW for their daily usage of water. There is no monitoring step for water quality status in the study area. Twelve water quality parameters were tested in the Laboratory under the study among those, five (Turbidity, TDS, pH, Iron & Manganese) were found satisfactory in all PSs, four (Color, Hardness, Alkalinity & Chloride) were found satisfactory in different three PSs, two (SS and TC) were not satisfactory in all PSs and one (FC) was not satisfactory in three PSs. That is, no Pourashava possesses the BDWQS in full swing. In context of Pourashava sanitation issues in the four PSs under the study area, solid waste disposal task is not performed accordingly and pollutes the environment, the provision to supply sanitary latrines (rings, top slab with pan) on free of cost is available in all PSs, the regular activities conducted by Pourashava health section are (a) action for national vaccination to the children, (d) U vaccine for mothers' care, (c) conducting National Days and campaign, (d) action against mosquitoes and (e) supply ARV to dog bitten person. The following data also reflects the complementary status on sanitation issues such as ; the quantity of solid waste collection or disposal is 64% of daily generation, the average solid waste generation in the study area ranges 0.135 to 0.15 Kg /capita /day, the coverage of sanitary larine in the study area ranges 95% to 100% which is satisfactory. The questionnaire survey conducted among 750 households out of 38,166 in the four PSs on all relevant issues regarding water supply and sanitation condition has explored the peoples' perception (PP) which should not be considered for the entire study area. Regarding water supply condition, according to PP, 35% respondents depend on Pourashava supply water and 23% households installed HIW in their houses with own cost. Regarding sanitation condition, according to PP, 29% respondents expressed "poor consciousness" of Pourashava inhabitants on solid waste disposal and 31% respondents expressed "not satisfactory" on solid waste management status in Pourashava. As per PP, 22% households connect their lathne direct into drain. According to PP, 49% children were attacked by common diseases during the year 2004 due to pollution of water and solid waste. In context of disturbance by mosquitoes, 96% respondents expressed "much disturbance" and 35% of them mentioned the period for almost the year.