WASH-Healthy Khulna: Making WASH more inclusive and sustainable
Are we thinking about working in an integrated way for better management of WASH? What, how and why the technologies vary in rural and Urban areas? Do we have any innovative thinking about utilising surface water? Shouldn't we think about wastewater treatment and reuse at the household level?
Mr Adib, Dr Muyeed, Eng. Abdullah and Mr Alauddin discussed on affordable WASH technologies, City-wide Inclusive Sanitation, water resource management in Khulna city and importance of research and innovation to ensure WASH-healthy Khulna, making WASH more inclusive and sustainable.
The Vice Chancellor of the Khulna University, Professor Dr Mahmood Hossain, added that the key sector actors of Khulna city should think about wastewater management, and encourage the treatment and reuse of wastewater at the household level. A wastewater treatment and management system can be piloted at the Khulna University campus for the learning and advocacy purposes. He also suggested that the Khulna WASA should take control over the use of groundwater in Khulna City to reduce the misuse and overextraction of underground water from deep tubewells.
The Director, Programmes from WaterAid Bangladesh, Mr Hossain Ishrath Adib, shared on the affordable WASH technology for marginalised population in Kolaroa Municipality. For years, the people of Kolaroa municipality under Satkhira district had limited access to safe water, often heavily contaminated with iron, arsenic, and saline. WaterAid, in collaboration with the local authorities and communities, analysed the situation and identified the suitable technology to address the crisis. Since 2013, WaterAid installed 94 Arsenic-Iron Removal Plants through its implementing partner Dhaka Ahsania Mission at communities and schools, eventually contributing to 100% coverage of the entire population of Kolaroa municipality with safe water. Sustainability of this safe water supply system has been ensured with community participation, municipality engagement and formation of a group of private operators.
