Water and wastewater in Bangladesh, current status and a design of a decentralized solution

Abstract: Wastewater treatment in developing countries is a major concern and solution has become challenging for various unfavorable conditions. Inadequate education and low economic perspective are causing difficulties in implementing advanced treatment methods. Similar to other developing countries, Bangladesh is also facing several water related problems both in the urban and rural region. Water borne diseases are the common phenomenon among the villagers as well as for urban inhabitants. Insufficiency in wastewater treatment facility is making effluent water harmful for the environment. Most of the untreated effluent is discharge to the nearest water bodies. Nowadays water scarcity is very typical in Bangladesh. Ground water depletion is increasing with time. The country requires some urgent solution to eradicate problems regarding wastewater. High population density and economic adversity are making difficulties in implementing solution. Moreover, political issues and social restriction have a huge impact on decision making.Natural calamities such as flooding affect the country very frequently. This also makes an adverse effect on the water sector. Decentralized wastewater treatment can make a remarkable change in the wastewater issues in Bangladesh. A recommendation of implementing decentralized wastewater system in rural Bangladesh is given in this report. Reuse of effluent water in the agricultural fields is another perspective of decentralized system. Treated effluent could be used further in irrigation. This initiative can positively reduce pressure on groundwater as well as energy consumption. A decentralized wastewater treatment facility for a typical village in the middle part of Bangladesh has been designed in this report. From the design, combination of an anaerobic pond with a subsurface wetland have been found efficient for that certain region. In addition, comparison between other onsite systems has been discussed. This study could be useful to choose proper technology for individual areas. Finally, proper management and monitoring system is a vital fact. Without appropriate maintenance, the main objective of this decentralized treatment will not be acquired.