ABSTRACT
Generating drinking water by using reverse osmosis is one of the recent desalination technologies that appears to be feasible in coastal rural areas of Bangladesh. This study explores the present water security status of the Barguna coastal area, in support of the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (safe water and sanitation). Despite the apparent abundance of freshwater in Bangladesh, the households in the study area experience shortages of safe drinking water all year round, but during the arid season the deficit becomes exceptionally severe. Water sample collection, laboratory testing and interviews were undertaken to understand the area’s current water security status. Water samples were randomly collected from households for laboratory testing, and heads of households were interviewed in a questionnaire survey. The water collection and storage scenarios of present drinking water facilities, the perception of respondents and the test results of water samples were then evaluated to understand the level of water injustice, as an element of the water security of the study area. The study revealed that the area is experiencing a long-term crisis of drinking water, and that more than 60% of the households interviewed experienced water insecurity-related difficulties. The study also found reverse osmosis to be both technically and economically feasible as a source of safe drinking water for this area of Bangladesh.
