1. Water & Sanitation Situation in the CHT and Potentials for using Rainfall Hasin Jahan Programme Director, WaterAid Bangladesh February 24, 2011

2. About WaterAid... WaterAid is an International Organisation WaterAid operates in 26 countries with the mission for improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in poor communities In Bangladesh, we reached over 2 million water, 6 million sanitation and 7 million hygiene beneficiaries till the last year

3. Area coverage: Rural: 50 upazilas under 20 districts Urban: more than 300 slums in 58 wards under 3 City Corporations [Dhaka, Chittagong & Khulna] Small Town: 3 Municipalities [Paikgacha, Fulbaria, Shakhipur] We stepped in the CHT since 1999 Area coverage: Rural: 50 upazilas under 20 districts Urban: more than 300 slums in 58 wards under 3 City Corporations [Dhaka, Chittagong & Khulna] Small Town: 3 Municipalities [Paikgacha, Fulbaria, Shakhipur] We stepped in the CHT since 1999 Current level of operation...

4. At a glance: CHT Hilly terrain 1/10 th of total land area Population: 1.16 million Hardcore poor: 30% 11 ethnic communities Vibrant Socio-political environment Remoteness- depriving from fundamental needs

5. Sanitation Situation in the CHT About 75% population use some form of latrine while 25% defecate at open places (ref. CHT Baseline Census by WaterAid, PSU & Unnayan Samannay, 2010) Of them who are using latrines, only 29% are hygienic Sanitation facilities: Mostly pit latrines with/ without lid Pit latrines with/ without water seal

6. Water Situation in the CHT Safe water coverage: 59% Natural water sources: Springs (jhiris) and Streams (charas)Springs (jhiris) and Streams (charas) Average daily consumption: 5-10 litres/person (ref: Counting the Hills, 2007) Avg. water collection time and distance: 2hr/day; 3 km Spend about 1/3 rd of monthly income for treatment

7. Water technologies in the CHT

8. Shallow / Deep-set Hand Tubewell

9. Ringwell

10. Infiltration Gallery [IFG]

11. Gravity Flow System (GFS)

12. Distribution of households using different water sources (59% hhs having access to safewater)

13. Challenges in water technologies High investment cost O&M difficulties (requires technical skill and repairing cost) But the most importantly drying up of ‘sources’

14. Why? WaterAid commissioned a Study to investigate underlying causes of spring flow deterioration jointly with CEGIS and BCAS in 2007 Image analyses Climatic and hydro-geological data analyses Perceptions of local inhabitants and indigenous knowledge

15. Analyses of climatic data Decreasing trend in Annual Rainfall (1961-2003) Increasing trend of Evaporation (1989-92) Increasing trend of Sunshine hours (1987-2002) Few key findings…

16. Analyses of Images of entire CHT (1989-2003) 53% loss of dense forest (170,000 ha) 23% increase of agricultural land and homestead 1989 2003

17. Khagrachari district 97% loss of dense forest 65% increase of agricultural land 1989 2003 Few key findings…

18. Causes of Spring flow deterioration Loss of conducive environment at sources due to deforestation Due to plantation of exogenous species (like Shegoon, rubber, tobacco etc.) soil becomes exposed and loss of vegetation in the catchment area does not allow to percolate rainwater into the ground to fed the spring during dry season. Landslides are increasing as a consequence.vegetation Change in landuse pattern

19. Causes of spring flow deterioration Jhum cultivation cycles becoming too close Infrastructures constructed without considering of the impacts on overall environment

20. Major recommendations of the study were: Social aforestation Spring management EIA for infrastructure development ‘Aquifer Recharge’ for ensuring drinking water in the long run

21. Let’s look forward … A holistic planning and adaptation of water resource management is needed by relevant sector actors A separate Sector Development Plan (SDP) for the CHT is underway; integration of compatible strategies is essential The emerging concern –protection natural springs is essential which requires support from beyond WSS sector and political will

22. THANKS For further details, please contact WaterAid Bangladesh H 97/B, Rd 25, Block A Banani, Dhaka 1213 Ph: +880.2.881.5757, 881.8521 Email: info@wateraidbd.org www.wateraid.org/bangladesh info@wateraidbd.org www.wateraid.org/bangladeshinfo@wateraidbd.org www.wateraid.org/bangladesh