Project Name: “Sanitation Strategies and Technologies” flood-prone and high water table areas of Bangladesh
Name of Client: DANIDA
Period: May 1998 to February 1999 (10 Months)
Description of Project: Bangladesh achieved a remarkable success by providing impressive coverage in water supply, while sanitation is lagging far behind. In rural socio-economic context, pit-latrine is considered as an appropriate sanitation options in Bangladesh. However, annual flooding, high water table, excessive rainfall and adverse soil condition in many areas often causes overflow and collapse of pit-latrines rendering them unsuitable for the intended purpose. Several studies reveal that the lack of appropriate sanitation facilities in flood –prone areas particularly during flood period was contributing to health problems and environmental degradation. Dispersion of wastewater from latrines into the ground water was a significant pollution problem in high-water table areas in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. Only the provision of physical sanitation facilities was not enough for the inhabitants of flood-prone and high-water areas to protect themselves from diseases as well as from environmental degradation. Specific strategies and appropriate technologies were required to cope with the sanitation problems in such areas of Bangladesh. To analyze the existing situation and current practices of sanitation, ITN-BUET carried out this research project with the aim of investigating the strategies and appropriate technologies suitable for high-water table and flood-prone areas of Bangladesh, particularly in three project areas - Dhaka, Patuakhali and Sylhet. The study recommended low-cost and sustainable remedial options of sanitation to improve the situations.