Assessment of Dugwell as an Alternative Water Supply Options in Arsenic Affected Areas of Bangladesh

About 29 million people are either directly or indirectly exposed to arsenic contamination with varying degrees of risk due to extensive arsenic contamination of the groundwater in the alluvial aquifers of Bangladesh. Considering the urgency and gravity of the problem, alternative water supply options like dugwells (DW), deep tubewells (DTW), pond sand filters (PSF) and rain water harvesting systems (RWHS) are being installed in arsenic affected areas under arsenic mitigation programme. The study aimed at assessing the water quality in both dry and wet seasons, sanitary integrity, functionality, operation and maintenance and social acceptability of dugwells. The study was conducted on 11 dugwells of Charghat, Dohar and Gazaria. Microbial contaminations were found in 95 percent water samples of DWs. None of DW water sampled in this study had an arsenic concentration higher than the Bangladesh drinking water standard (BDS) of 50 μg/L but arsenic concentrations exceeding the WHO guideline value (WHOGV) of 10 μg/L were found in 35 percent of DWs water samples. Both iron and manganese were present in DW water of Dohar and Gazaria in excess of BDS. Water quality of DWs of Charghat in all respects was found better than DWs of Dohar and Gazaria. Users’ satisfaction and social acceptability of the DWs were found area specific depending on the quality and availability of water.