Kamrul Alam :
Bangladesh, the land of rivers, experiences flooding almost every year. The country’s geography and climate render it vulnerable to the availability of safe drinking water throughout the year.
During floods, low-lying areas are inundated, and many drinking water sources are typically submerged, leading to a significant scarcity of safe water.
In recent years, the intensity of floods has increased. The devastating flash flood in 2022 primarily affected the North East region, particularly Sylhet division, Kishoreganj, and several other districts.
There had been no historical evidence of flooding at that intensity in the past 122 years. The floods in 2024 similarly impacted districts such as Feni, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, and Sylhet.
Typically, water sources such as tube wells, pond sand filters, piped water schemes, and rainwater harvesting systems become inundated during floods. This results in an acute crisis of safe drinking water.
If the water points in flood-affected areas had been installed considering previous high flood levels, the crisis of safe water might not have been as severe during recent floods.
The primary problem for the flood-affected population is the non-availability of safe water, as existing sources become submerged.
In some cases, people resort to drinking unsafe water, leading to diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases, with children being particularly vulnerable.
The Bangladeshi government has considerable experience in flood management.
A review of damages and losses from floods and cyclones over the past 60 years indicates significant progress in this area.
The extent of damages and casualties is considerably lower than in the past.
However, mainstreaming the installation of emergency water points into development programs could significantly enhance safe water availability and reduce waterborne diseases during and after floods.
The installation of climate-resilient water points (elevated structures) in flood- and cyclone-prone districts has proven effective in ensuring safe water access.
Government has already started installation of raised tube wells in identified flood prone areas but mass awareness is required to promote this concept among other Water Sanitation actors and private sectors.
Typically, during flood response activities, the government and NGOs focus on ensuring safe drinking water through various methods, including distributing water purification tablets, raising inundated tube wells, disinfecting affected tube wells, distributing water containers and trucking safe water.
However, implementing these activities can be challenging due to disrupted road communication during floods, making preparedness measures essential.
The following measures can help to ensure access to safe water during and after floods, thereby reducing the risk of diarrhoea, child mortality, and morbidity:
1. Develop a Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan: This plan should address immediate water supply needs and long-term recovery.
2. Water Point Installation and Assessment: Installing water points at elevated locations is crucial for ensuring access during floods. This has proven to be an effective strategy.
3. Assess Water Table Levels: Determine the type of tube wells needed (forced mode or suction mode) in the flood prone areas.
4. Install Tube Wells with Double Platforms: In flood-prone areas, tube well pumps should be placed on normal platforms under normal conditions and during floods, the pump need to be relocated to the elevated platform. This approach has been proven effective.
5. Implement Context-Specific Water Technologies:
Promote technologies such as pond sand filters and rainwater harvesting systems tailored to local conditions to prevent submersion during floods.
6. Ensure Availability of Protected Ponds: In coastal areas, these should be safeguarded against contamination from seawater after cyclones. More ponds need to be excavated in coastal region.
7. Install Water Points on Raised Land: Locations such as embankments and highways, where people take shelter during floods, should be prioritized.
8. Provision of Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Implement these systems in multi-storied buildings like schools and madrasas as part of preparedness activities, where affected individuals will have access to safe water while they are in shelter.
9. Community Involvement and Maintenance: Engage local community leaders in managing water resources to ensure sustainability and effective maintenance. Provide training and resources to help communities adapt to changing climate conditions.
10. Water Resource Assessment: Ensure availability of vulnerability assessment reports related to safe water and water technology mapping to prevent delays in emergency response activities.
11. Emergency Response and Recovery Activities: Develop and implement plans that include effective safe water supply management and recovery strategies. Use technology mapping and vulnerability assessment reports to target the most affected areas.
12. Implementation of Water Technologies: Introduce and integrate water technologies suitable for local conditions, ensuring their practicality and effectiveness.
13. Protection and Sustainable Use of Water Points: Ensure that water points installed as part of emergency preparedness remain functional year-round, and protect climate-resilient ponds for long-term safe water availability.
14. Promote Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Utilize these systems to collect and store rainwater as an additional water source. Ensure they are well-maintained to maximize effectiveness.
15. Community Engagement: Involve communities in planning and executing water supply management in their own locality. Provide hygiene education and resources to help communities adapt to climate change and manage water resources effectively.
By addressing these issues through tailored strategies and technologies, we can improve water management practices, adapt to climate change impacts, and ensure a more resilient and sustainable water supply system, guaranteeing safe water availability throughout the year, including during floods and cyclones. This will definitely contribute in reducing incidence of diarrhoeal diseases and child and morbidity in Bangladesh.
(The writer had been working with an international organisation for about 39 years in dealing with water sanitation issues during disasters like
floods and cyclones).