1. Salinization: A Social Ecological Issue in the Bengal Delta
Rahman, Mofizur; Ahmad, Sate; Alam, Shajratul; Nahian, Mahin Al
icddr,b
Water and Health

3. SALINIZATION “is the accumulation of salts in soil and water.”

4. CAUSES OF SALINIZATION
Salt Water Intrusion
Increased Storm Surge Inundation
Shallow Coastal Flooding
Land Subsidence
Reduced Freshwater Flow
Temperature Rise
Reduced Rainfall
Sea Level Rise
Upstream Water Diversion
Dam Building
Increased Evaporation
Coastal Embankment
Poor Polder Management
Increase Shrimp Farming

5. CONSEQUENCES OF SALINIZATION
Increased Burden on Women
Increased Blood Pressure
Unemployment
Migration
Loss of Cultural Heritage
Changes in Livelihood
Reduced Crop Production
Changes in Soil Quality
Environmental Refugees
Land Use Change
High Sodium Intake
Increased Infectious
Diseases
Increased Road Maintenance Cost
Changes in Drinking Water Quality
Loss of Biodiversity
Gender Inequality
TIME

6. SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SALINIZATION

7. Barisal: Khulna: STUDY AREA Barguna Barisal Bhola Jhalokathi
Patuakhali
Pirojpur
Khulna:
Bagerhat
Satkhira
Khulna

8. IMPACT OF SALINIZATION ON HEALTH

9. Inconsistencies between Actual vs Perceived Salinity in Groundwater
MEASURED VS PERCEIVED SALINITY
Inconsistencies between Actual vs Perceived Salinity in Groundwater
Actual GW Salinity
Perceived GW Salinity
no problem/good
moderate
bad
total
below upper taste/odor
threshold (<1000 mg/L)
54.19*
23.01*
22.8*
100
moderately saline
( mg/L)
49.01
34.92*
16.07*
highly saline
(>=2500 mg/L)
12.27*
27.57
60.16*
n= 3,449
46.48
27.52
26.01
Pearson chi2(4) = Pr < 0.001

10. Probable reasons for inconsistencies GOOD but reported BAD ->
MEASURED VS PERCEIVED SALINITY
Probable reasons for inconsistencies
GOOD but reported BAD ->
- other water parameters such as iron .
- expectation of donation in terms of cash/ kind.
2) BAD but reported GOOD (in terms of salinity)
-> adaptation to the taste of salt?
- anecdotal references

11. ADAPTATION TO SALINIZATION
Rain Water Harvesting
Solar Based Desalinization
Community Based Pond
Ground Water Governance
IWRM
Salinity Resistance Crops
Managed Aquifer Recharge

12. ADAPTATION: RAIN WATER HARVESTING

13. CONCLUSION
Salinization is one of the largest, slow, invisible threat to the delta
It has a large impact on health and wellbeing
Hypertension is just a tip of the iceberg
There are inconsistencies between Perceived and Measured Salinity
There is no SINGLE solution
Solution need to be tailor made