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GSA Annual Meeting, November 5-8, 2001

Paper No. 0
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

A STUDY ON THE NATURE OF DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN TUBEWELL WATER OVER TIME AND THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY RESPONSE PATTERNS REGARDING SAFE WATER OPTIONS IN TWO UPAZILAS OF BANGLADESH


JAKARIYA, Md., Rsch and Evaluation Div, BRAC, BRAC Centre, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh, bracamr@bdmail.net

Bangladesh faces multi-faceted problems in relation to its development. Now there is also a new threat - arsenic contamination in groundwater. It is estimated that 95% of the population relies on groundwater for drinking purposes and nearly one third of Bangladesh is affected by this new problem (DPHE/BGS/DFID, 2000). In order to combat the arsenic problem BRAC, with the help of UNICEF and DPHE recently completed an Action Research on Community-Based Arsenic Mitigation project in two upazilas: Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj district and Jhikargachha upazila of Jessore district. This paper describes results of testing, treatment of arsenic-affected patients, and the installation, monitoring and evaluation of safe water options in the two upazilas.

A total of 25,048 and 26,637 tubewells were tested in Sonargaon and Jhikargachha respectively. According to the test results 62% of the wells in Sonargaon and 48% in Jhikargachha are contaminated with arsenic.

To mitigate the arsenic problem, a number of alternative safe water options are available in Bangladesh. Some of these options are based on treating surface water and some are based on treating arsenic-contaminated water. In order to identify factors responsible for different response patterns, a study was conducted in the two upazilas. Variables such as age, education, occupation, monthly income, perceptions of the problem, and expectation to solve the problem were analyzed in order to find the reasons for this variation among the community. A statistically significant difference was observed in the use of the safe water options and their perceptions of the problem.

This paper briefly discusses the distribution pattern of arsenic in these two upazilas and the factors regarding community acceptance of the alternative options in order to solve the arsenic problem in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The paper also discusses the change in arsenic concentration in tubewell water over time of the two upazilas based on laboratory experiments.

Session No. 22--Booth# 90

T61. Natural Arsenic in Groundwater: Science, Regulation, and Health Implications (Posters)
Monday, 5 November 2001: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 33, No. 6, October 2001, p.308
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