Is Safe Water and Sanitation Access Really Impacted Due to Climate Change? - A Cross-Sectional Study in the Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to explore the relation between lack of potable water and improved sanitation with the effects of climate change. In September 2014 a, cross sectional study covering 600 households with structured questionnaires that was carried out by Water-Aid Bangladesh in two Upazillas of Satkhira district. The study revealed that there were two types of climate change impact. One was severe salinity intrusion into surface water body. Another was prolonged drought. However, these two were again linked with each other as increased drought was responsible to severe salinity into surface water. In the survey, 47% of respondents mentioned that the water they access was not pure. However, increased access to pond sand filter (PSF) and other water sources justify the claim. Nearly 53% of households have access to improved drinking water sources like shallow deep tube well, in contrast to 10% just three years ago. December to August is the water crisis period with different kind of upward and downward mobility. Draught (40%), salinity (29%), lower ground water level (15%) and damage of water source (12%) were some major reasons found behind the crisis sector. The average improved sanitation facilities (84%) in the study area were at 56 percent point higher than 2011 and 30 percent point higher in compare with the average national rural Bangladesh of 54.5%. But such findings do not refer to the impact of climate change. If we consider the drought and flood impact then the safe sanitation percentage goes down. Thus, this indicates about the need of a regional focus as well while planning any future intervention.