ABSTRACT
Arsenic screening or blanket survey of water points to assess the arsenic risk at community is a critical step for an effective arsenic mitigation programme. The mapping of existing safe and unsafe water options based on screening results are important aspects in allocation of new water points and optimization of sites for installation of water points. DPHE-UNICEF Arsenic Safe Union Project (2017–2021) targeted 22 unions under three severely arsenic affected upazilas under Cumilla, Sylhet and Satkhira districts for arsenic screening and thereafter installation of Arsenic (As) safe drinking water points as required to declare the whole union arsenic safe. One of the most important outcomes of arsenic screening results was to plot the location of water points in each union with a clear and visible symbol representing Arsenic safe and unsafe water wells using GIS. The distribution pattern along with the summary result helped technical committee for appropriate planning and decision making on allocation/optimization of the locations for new water point installations to bring all people under one union in the coverage of arsenic safe water. Moreover, the screening process helped to identify the unserved population and remote pocket areas those are overlooked by regular water supply interventions. At the same time, it provides required testimony for selection of context specific appropriate technology and raise awareness on arsenic contamination within the local people as well as their capacity for arsenic testing.
