Installing water filters and deep tube wells in rural Bangladesh to provide safe drinking water to textile worker communities in areas where industrial effluent has severely contaminated groundwater sources.
THE PROBLEM
Textile factories in Bangladesh frequently release toxic industrial effluents directly into nearby rivers, canals, and groundwater sources without proper treatment. As a result, the water sources relied upon by surrounding rural communities for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing become severely contaminated.
This pollution not only threatens the immediate health of these communities, causing waterborne diseases and chronic conditions, but also undermines their livelihoods and ability to work and generate income.
THE IMPACT
In Numbers
0
water filters built
0
K+
people benefitting
WHAT WE DO
Our Solutions
To address this, water filter systems – combining biosand filters and deep tube wells –provide free, clean water from a tap 24/7. Prior water testing determines whether a biosand filter alone suffices or if a deep tube well is also needed. As part of our solution, we conduct
- meaningful stakeholder engagement
- regular water quality tests
- training of a water committee and operator
Deep Tube Wells
Deep tube wells access groundwater from aquifers located around 600 feet (180 meters) or more below the surface, naturally protected by impermeable soil layers that block surface pollutants. This provides a safer, more sustainable water source where shallow groundwater is contaminated. The wells use electric submersible or hand pumps based on local electricity availability. With minimal maintenance, these wells typically last 10 to 15 years.
Biosand Filters
Biosand filters, based on a 200-year-old technique, use layers of sand, gravel, activated carbon, and brick chips to remove pathogens and suspended solids through natural biological and physical processes. They require no electricity, operating by gravity, and can treat various local water sources. If shallow groundwater is heavily contaminated, a deep tube well accesses safer, deeper water. With minimal maintenance, these wells typically last at least 10 years.
Piped Water Systems
Piped water systems are a combination of the two above and deliver clean water to a much higher number of people, while protecting groundwater levels. They supply a cluster of different paras or villages with water from a single deep tube well. The extracted aater is routed through a Biosand Filter for purification and distributed to multiple tap stations, some of which also include a UV filter for added safety.