Report on Dug Wells implemented by DCH

2nd Phase

Drinking Water Supply through Pipelines at the Household Level for the Rural Community

Planned and Implemented

By

Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH)

190/1 Baro MoghBazar, Dhaka-1217

Tel: 9351190-91, 8314887

E-mail: dch@bangla.net

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1 Arsenic Problem – Situation of Bangladesh

1.2 Hazards of Arsenic Intake

1.3 Arsenic Mitigation Programme of DCH

1.4 Wilson Arsenic Mitigation Program

2. Brief Description of a Dug Well

2.1 Materials Required for Digging and Constructing a New Dug Well

2.2 Installation of Dug Well with Pipeline

2.3 Cost of Digging Dug Well with pipeline

2.4 Maintenance Procedure

2.5 Maintenance Cost

3. Project Implementation

3.1 Community mobilization

3.2 Committee formation

3.3 Training of community worker and caretaker

3.4 Site selection

3.5 Drawing of water supply network

3.6 Installation of dug well and pipe network

3.7 Community meeting

3.8 Monitoring

4. Proposed 3^rd Phase of Mitigation Programme

5. Discussion

6. Recommendation

7. Acknowledgements

Annexure 1   Design  of  the system

Annexure 2    MAP  of PABNA  districy

Annexure 3    INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION

Annexure 4     EXAMPLE OF VILLAGE

Annexure 5     Estimated costs of dugwells in Spring 2004

1. Introduction

1.1 Arsenic Problem – Situation of Bangladesh

Arsenic contamination in groundwater and its toxic effect on human health is a major public health problem in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh around 97% of the people are dependent on water supply from the groundwater source at present. For more than 30 years tube wells have been introduced for safe drinking water and domestic purposes on a mass scale. But recently the arsenic contamination in groundwater has made this source unsafe. This has created major problems, especially among the rural people. So far 61 districts out of 64 districts are affected with arsenic contamination in groundwater. It is estimated that about 85 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of arsenic toxicity.

All the tube wells in Bangladesh have not yet surveyed. Only about 10-15% tube wells have been surveyed and found that 70% and 40% tube wells have arsenic level above the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bangladesh water quality standard of 0.01 and 0.05 mg/l respectively (DCH, 1998; DPHE, 1997). In some villages 100% of tube wells are contaminated with high level of arsenic.

1.2 Hazards of Arsenic Intake

Severe health effects have been observed in populations drinking arsenic-rich water over long periods in countries worldwide. The symptoms and signs that arsenic causes appear to differ between individuals, population groups and geographic areas. Arsenicosis ‑ the clinical syndrome originating from high dose arsenic poisoning ranges from spotted melanosis (skin pigmentation) and keratosis (thickening of skin of palm/ foot) up to carcinoma. In Bangladesh keratoses of the foot often lead to gangrene which, if untreated, can lead to death.

Long-term exposure to arsenic through drinking water causes cancer of the skin, lungs, urinary bladder, and kidney, as well as other skin changes such as pigmentation changes and thickening (hyperkeratosis) gangrene of limbs.

Arsenicosis patients suffer also socially and culturally. Youths are refused marriage, many women and some men have been divorced and children are often asked to leave school. It is also important to non that no proper case management a arsenicosis case for prevalence was been under taken by government, or non government agencies. DCH also with is limited resources trying to case for the arsenicosis patients.

1.3 Arsenic Mitigation Programme of DCH

DCH has been involved with the arsenic problem since 1996 when DCH doctors working at an annual health camp at Pakshi, Pabna District first detected patients suffering symptoms of arsenicosis. DCH lobbied extensively to establish this issue as a public health problem and went on to work with Jadevpur University, Kolkata to sample survey the whole of Bangladesh. Since then it has collaborated with various partners in research into the problem and solutions for mitigation as well as conducting its own arsenic projects. DCH also provides training on arsenicosis and arsenic problems through its Institute of Family Health, including training for oversees medical personnel e.g. The Nepalese Health Department.

1.4 Wilson Arsenic Mitigation Program

For the last few years DCH has been implementing on arsenic mitigation programme with financial assistance obtained by Prof. Richard Wilson, Department of Physics, Harvard University, USA. In the first phase of the mitigation programme, DCH renovated and installed 43 dug wells (including one with pipeline supply system). This phase covered 631 families – serving 3250 users. In the second phase, 17 dug wells with pipeline network were installed which covered 518 families – serving 2903 users.

In this process approximately 100 arsenicosis patients are getting arsenic free safe water. These patients are getting regular checkup by experienced doctors and it appears that they are improving.

2. Brief Description of Dug Well

Dug well is thousand years old technology of water supply in rural Bangladesh. Almost all the people used this technology before tube well came in. For the past 30 to 40 years hand tube well was promoted on a mass scale and as tube well became very popular source of drinking water and household purpose, dug wells gradually decayed because of non-use. Recently tube wells are found to be contaminated with high level of arsenic all over the country. To mitigate arsenic problem, Dhaka Community Hospital has started to provide dug well and other alternative safe water options (PSF, RWH etc) in the arsenic affected communities in collaboration with GoB and donor agencies. DCH is also providing dug wells with pipeline system in some areas.

2.1 Materials Required for Digging and

                                                                                                                        Constructing a New Dug Well

1. Spade, Crowbar etc.

2. Nylon rope

3. Bamboo pole

4. Cement ring

5. Sand and cement

6. Bricks or brickbats

Figure 1: Materials required for digging and

constructing dug well platform

2.2 Installation of Dug Well with Pipeline

As DCH has taken up the programme of dug well, a protocol for safety of dug well construction and keeping dug well water free from contamination was formulated. Later on this protocol was further strengthen by WHO protocol, which is now being followed (Annexure 3). March and April, driest months in the country, are considered the best time for digging wells. During this period, ground water remains at the lowest level.

A hole is dug about a diameter of 36 inches. The depth of each well varies from place to place. Cement or baked clay ring is set from bottom to top and joining of rings is cemented to keep the well water safe from contamination. An apron of about four feet is made around the head wall and a 30-40 feet drain is constructed at the ground level to avoid water logging around the head wall.

An electric pump machine pumps water from dug well to an overhead reservoir of 3000 L. Overhead tank is installed on an 15 feet tall iron stand. The stand is fixed on the ground with RCC work. A main water supply pipe (3 /4 '' plastic pipe) is connected with the tank for distribution of water to the household level. 1/2'' GI pipeline is connected with the mainline to supply water at the household. 40-50 households are connected with the supply line.

2.3 Cost of Digging Dug Well with pipeline

Digging a well with pipeline and cementing its floor at the ground level would cost an amount of Tk 85,000/= to 90,000/= The price however, may differ from place to place.

Table 1: Cost of dug well

Material	Quantity	Price in Tk	Total Tk
1. Cement Ring	42	500	21,000
2. Brick	800	4	3,200
3. Sand	100 cft	20	2,000
4. Cement	5 bags	400	2,000
5. Brick bats	20ft	35	700
6. Labor charge for earth digging	42 ft	250(per ft)	10,500
7. Cement Bats			1,700
8. Cover of well	1		3,500
9. Bucket & rope			600
10. Others			500
Total cost per dug well = 45,700

Table 2: Cost of supply line

Material	Quantity	Price in Tk	Total Tk
1.Water tank	1 (4000 L)	10,000	10,000
2.Iron stand	4	1,500	6,000
3.Machine	1 (1HP)	6,000	6,000
4. Labour (Pipeline)	3	3,000	3,000
5.Labour (stand set )	4	600	600
6.Cover	1	1,000	1,000
7. Tank transportation	1	350	350
8.Cement	3 bags	400	1,200
9.Brick bats	7 cft	35	245
10.Sand	15 cft	20	300
11.Coil pipe	700 ft	10	7,000
12.1/2 T	6	50	300
13. Elbow (1/2 )	10	55	550
14. Union	8	65	520
15.jam nut	10	40	400
16.Nipple	15	30	450
17. T	10	45	450
18.Tap	8	100	800
19.Elbow (1)	12	25	300
20.GI pipe ½	20 ft	30	600
21.Brash tap	10	15	150
22.Haback	250 gm		10
23.Cheek valve	1	250	250
24.PVC	4	25	100
25.Electric wire	25 m	10	250
26.Plague pin	1	10	10
27.Transport			300
Total cost of pipeline network per dug well = 41,135

1. Cost of dug well per unit Tk. 45,700.00

2. Cost of pipe line installation per unit Tk. 41,135.00

Grand total Tk. 86,835.00 = $1,524 (US)

Note: Calculated using 1 USD ($) = Tk. 57.00 only

Table 3: List of 17 New Dug Wells with Pipeline Installed by Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) with charitable funds ($20,000.00 (US)) in the 2^nd Phase of Mitigation Programme

Dug well No	Name of Village	Name of Union	Name of upazilla	Name of District	Unit Point	Total Family	Family covered	Total Population of village	Population covered by dug well
1.	Ruppur (Malitha para)	Pakshi	Ishwardi	Pabna	06	65	40	390	240
2.	Ruppur (Biswaspara)	Pakshi	Ishwardi	Pabna	06	75	37	450	222
3.	Ruppur(Charabottala)	Pakshi	Ishwardi	Pabna	08	68	53	408	318
4.	Babulchara	Awtapara	Ishwardi	Pabna	08	70	48	410	340
5.	Durgapur	Ahammedpur	Sujanagor	Pabna	07	70	28	420	168
6.	Gopalpur	Kashinathpur