Street hydrant: A source of relief

street hydrant

Chattogram is the second-largest city in Bangladesh but only half of its population could access piped water. The channeled water source is often unreliable and unclean. In addition, its growing population had to suffer due to inadequate water infrastructure and service delivery capacity. 

One such area in Chittagong is Goyachi Bagan area. Previously, people around this area would suffer due to not having enough water sources or direct access to clean and safe water. Moreover, the slums surrounding the area are overcrowded, and the existing water sources were not adequate, not meeting the demand of the people. The community members and residence of the Chattoshori Road, Goyachi Bagan area, would often suffer from water borne disease cholera, diarrhoea for consuming unsafe water from the source, which required severe up-gradation of the water supply facilities in the public places however, the street hydrants ensured better and improved access to safe drinking water for the entire community.

street hydrant

To solve the water problem where the old street water pipe remain in poor condition and often out of order, upgradation and installation of modern technology based street hydrant is a solution to ensure easy access to safe drinking water for the public in surrounding communities, overcrowded slum residents and city dwellers. WaterAid Bangladesh in cooperation with local NGO Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) installed the street hydrant in the area funded by the Embassy of Sweden – now the multiple community member can access safe and clean water whenever they need.  

Md. Mizan is a three-wheeler auto-rickshaw driver crosses the Chattashori road several times in a day. From morning till night, he collects drinking water from the upgraded street hydrant situated in the middle of the road. The water is safe and saves much time for Md. Mizan as he keeps circling the area during his work schedule.

The water looks clean and hygiene. The water facility in the public place provide us access to safe and clean drinking water whenever we need it. And I believe there should be more street hydrants around the city - to live a healthy and a better life.”

Not only people like Md.Mizan but People from the surrounding slums, impoverished households, shopkeepers, drivers of various vehicles, hawkers all now can collect and enjoy this water free of cost and anytime, any day. 

street hydrant