Md. Anwarul Abedin, Umma Habiba, Rajib Shaw. Community Perception and Adaptation to Safe Drinking Water Scarcity: Salinity, Arsenic, and Drought Risks in Coastal Bangladesh[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2014, 5(2): 110-124. doi: 10.1007/s13753-014-0021-6
Citation: Md. Anwarul Abedin, Umma Habiba, Rajib Shaw. Community Perception and Adaptation to Safe Drinking Water Scarcity: Salinity, Arsenic, and Drought Risks in Coastal Bangladesh[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2014, 5(2): 110-124. doi: 10.1007/s13753-014-0021-6

Community Perception and Adaptation to Safe Drinking Water Scarcity: Salinity, Arsenic, and Drought Risks in Coastal Bangladesh

doi: 10.1007/s13753-014-0021-6
  • Available Online: 2021-04-26
  • One of the most serious resource and health issues in coastal communities of Bangladesh is the scarcity of safe drinking water, triggered by the combined effects of salinity, arsenic, and drought. This article explores community perception of vulnerabilities in daily life, livelihood, and environment, and investigates how communities and institutions cope with or adapt to drinking water scarcity. This study outlines community expectations for support from government and nongovernment organizations to overcome this problem. The findings reveal that nearly all respondents from the drinking water scarcity area perceive that salinity is the primary reason for the lack of safe drinking water compared to arsenic and drought hazards. Despite a number of socioeconomic factors and a geographical location that aggravates the coastal communities' vulnerability, these communities have established their own adaptation mechanism to cope with this crisis. Government and nongovernment organizations have also supported community efforts to cope with the problem. By emphasizing both community adaptation methods and efforts of institutions, this article illustrates an integrated community-based approach, which would be effective for reducing drinking water scarcity in the southwestern coastal region of the country.
  • loading
  • Abedin, M.A., and R. Shaw. 2013a. Safe water adaptability for salinity, arsenic and drought risks in southwest of Bangladesh. Risk, Hazards and Crisis in Public Policy 4(2):62-82.
    Abedin, M.A., and R. Shaw. 2013b. Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh:Contemporary alarm and future strategy. In Disaster risk reduction approaches in Bangladesh, ed. R. Shaw, F. Mallick, and A. Islam, 191-216. Tokyo:Springer.
    Abedin, M.A., and R. Shaw. 2013c. Community level arsenic mitigation practices in southwestern part of Bangladesh. In Water insecurity:A social dilemma, ed. M.A. Abedin, U. Habiba, and R. Shaw, 51-73. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Abedin, M.A., U. Habiba, and R. Shaw. 2012. Impacts of salinity, arsenic and drought in south-western Bangladesh. In Environment disaster linkages, ed. R. Shaw, and T. Phong, 165-193. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Abedin, M.A., U. Habiba, and R. Shaw (eds.). 2013. Water insecurity:A social dilemma. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Agrawala, S., T. Ota, A.U. Ahmed, J. Smith, and M. van Aalst. 2003. Development and climate change in Bangladesh:Focus on coastal flooding and Sundarbans. Paris:OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
    Ahmed, A.U. 2008. Desakota phenomenon observed in Satkhira-Khulna-Jessore-Dhaka corridor in the southwestern Bangladesh:A case study in re-imagining the rural-urban continuum. Kathmandu, Nepal:Desakota Study Team, Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET).
    Ali, A.M.S. 2006. Rice to shrimp:Land use/land cover changes and soil degradation in southwestern Bangladesh. Land Use Policy 23(4):421-435.
    Appelo, T. ed. 2006. Arsenic in groundwater:A world problem. Proceedings of a seminar organized by the Netherlands National Committee of IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists), Publication No. 5. Utrecht, The Netherlands, IAH. http://www.un-igrac.org/dynamics/modules/SFIL0100/view.php?fil_Id=107. Accessed 8 Jun 2014.
    Borghesi, S., and A. Vercelli. 2005. Global health. http://www.aiccon.it/file/convdoc/n.13.pdf. Accessed 9 May 2014.
    Chowdhury, M.R. 2007. Rainfall variability:Impacts of climate change? http://www.southasianfloods.icimod.org/. Accessed 9 May 2014.
    Concern Worldwide. 2012. Water:How can we increase the world's access to clean water. New York:Concern Worldwide US.
    Curry, E. 2010. Water scarcity and the recognition of the human right to safe freshwater. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights 9(1):Article 5.
    Daily Star. 2013. Salinity in southwestern region:Drinking water to death. 26 July 2013.
    Dankelman, I., K. Alam, A. Khurshid, W.B. Ahmed, Y.D. Gueye, N. Fatema, and R.M. Kutin. 2008. Gender, climate change and human security:Lessons from Bangladesh, Ghana and Senegal. Report prepared for Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) by the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), ABANTU for Development in Ghana, Action Aid Bangladesh, and ENDA in Senegal.
    Farhana, S. 2011. Suitability of pond sand filters as safe drinking water solution in storm surge prone areas of Bangladesh:A case study of post-AILA situation in Shyamnagar, Satkhira District, Khulna. Master's Thesis. Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management (PPDM), BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Gain, P. 1995. Attack of the shrimps. TWR 59:18-19.
    Gopal, B., and M. Chauhan. 2006. Biodiversity and its conservation in the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem. Aquatic Sciences 68(3):228-254.
    Habiba, U., and R. Shaw. 2012. Bangladesh experiences of community based disaster disk reduction. In Community, environment and disaster risk management, ed. R. Shaw, 91-111. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Habiba, U., R. Shaw, and Y. Takeuchi. 2011. Drought risk reduction through a socio-economic, institutional and physical approach in the northwestern region of Bangladesh. Environmental Hazards 10(2):121-138.
    Habiba, U., R. Shaw, and Y. Takeuchi. 2012. Farmer's perception and adaptation practices to cope with drought:Perspectives from northwestern Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 1:72-84.
    Habiba, U., M.A. Abedin, and R. Shaw. 2013. Salinity induced livelihood stress in southwestern part of Bangladesh. In Water insecurity:A social dilemma, ed. M.A. Abedin, U. Habiba, and R. Shaw, 139-165. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Hadi, A., and R. Parveen. 2004. Arsenicosis in Bangladesh:Prevalence and socio-economic correlates. Public Health 118(8):559-564.
    Hoque, R.M. 2009. Access to safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh:Water governance by DPHE. Master's Thesis, Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Horneman, A., A. van Green, D. Kent, P.E. Mathe, Y. Zheng, R.K. Dhar, et al. 2004. Decoupling of As and Fe release to Bangladesh groundwater under reducing conditions. Part 1:Evidence from sediment profiles. Geochimica et Chosmochimica Acta 68(17):3459-3473.
    Islam, R.M. (ed.). 2004. Where land meets the sea:A profile of the coastal zone of Bangladesh. Dhaka:University Press Limited.
    Islam, M.R. 2008. Towards institutionalization of global ICZM efforts. In Integrated coastal zone management, ed. R.R. Krishnamurthy, A. Kannen, A. Ramanathan, S. Tinti, B.C. Glavovic, D.R. Green, Z. Han, and T.S. Agardy, 23-34. Singapore:Research Publishing.
    Islam, N., and A. Gnauck. 2008. Mangrove wetland ecosystems in Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in Bangladesh. Frontiers of Earth Science in China 2(4):439-448.
    Islam, M.M., F.N.F. Chou, M.R. Kabir, and C.H. Liaw. 2010. Rainwater:A potential alternative source for scarce safe drinking and arsenic contaminated water in Bangladesh. Water Resources Management 24(14):3987-4008.
    Kamruzzaman, A.K.M., and F. Ahmed. 2006. Study of performance of existing pond sand filters in different parts of Bangladesh. In Sustainable development of water resources, water supply and environmental sanitation, 32nd WEDC (Water, Engineering and Development Centre) conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 13-17 November 2006, 377-380. Colombo:WEDC Publications.
    Marfai, M.A., L. King, J. Sartohadi, S. Sudrajat, R.S. Budiani, and F. Yulianto. 2008. The impact of tidal flooding on a coastal community in Semarang, Indonesia. The Environmentalist 28(3):237-248.
    Miah, M.M.U. 2010. Assessing long-term impacts of vulnerabilities on crop production due to climate change in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies, Final Report PR #10/08.
    Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh. 2005. National adaptation program of action. Dhaka:Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
    Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh. 2005. Coastal zone policy. Dhaka:Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
    Mirza, M.M.Q. (ed.). 2004. The Ganges water diversion environmental effects and implications. Dordrecht:Kluwer Academic Publishers.
    MoWR (Ministry of Water Resources), Bangladesh. 2006. Coastal development strategy. Dhaka:Water Resources Planning Organizations, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh.
    Parvin, G.A., F. Takahashi, and R. Shaw. 2008. Coastal hazards and community-coping methods in Bangladesh. Journal of Coastal Conservation 12(4):181-193.
    Pereira, L.S., L. Cordery, and L. Lacovides. 2009. Coping with water scarcity:Addressing the challenges. New York:Springer.
    Quazi, A.R. (ed.). 2006. In search of safe drinking water:In the context of climate change and salinity. Satkhira, Bangladesh:Uttaran and Water Committee.
    Shaw, R., and D. Thaitakoo. 2010. Water communities:Introduction and overview. In Water communities, ed. R. Shaw, and D. Thaitakoo, 1-13. Bingley, UK:Emerald Publishers.
    Swapan, S.S.A., and M.M. Mamun. 2006. In search of safe drinking water:In the context of climate change and salinity. Uttaran, Tala, Satkhira, Bangladesh. http://uttaran.net/publications/insearchofsafedrinkingwater.pdf. Accessed 9 May 2014.
    Tho, N., N. Vromant, N.T. Hung, and L. Hens. 2008. Soil salinity and sodicity in a shrimpfarming coastal area of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Environment Geology 54:1739-1746.
    WHO (World Health Organization). 2008. An interview with Mahmudur Rahman:Bangladesh arsenic agony. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 86(1):11-12.
    WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund). 2010. Estimates for the use of improved drinking water sources and improved sanitation facilities. Geneva:World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund, Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation.
    Wijayaratna, D.M. 2004. Role of local communities and institutions in integrated rural development. Asian productive organization. http://www.apo-tokyo.org/publications/files/pjrep-icd-se-3-01.pdf. Accessed 14 May 2014.
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Article Metrics

    Article views (93) PDF downloads(0) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return