Untitled - UNU-IAS - United Nations University

scopes (financial resources) to observe the water quality performance during the period and the research ended
before its completion due to an unavoidable circumstance.
A schematic drawing of the biogas facilities in Bauniabad and a photo of a biogas facility under construction in
Bauniabad are presented in Figure 2.5 and Photo 2.5.
The Bauniabad option was arranged as a gravity flow based small-bore sewerage system by connecting the
existing individual latrines on each plot; this system uses the power of gravity to aid the flow of the wastewater
through the system. A schematic drawing of the layout of the tested sewerage system is presented in Figure 2.6.
About 90 household latrines were connected to one biogas facility. The wastewater from 24 latrines is collected
through a pipe 0.1 m in diameter, which directs the flow of the wastewater into a square type connection pit at
the end of each lane; this type of connection pit at the end of each lane is about 1 m 3 in volume. The wastewater
from all the connection pits, at the end of each lane, is then collected by a pipe 0.15 m in diameter and guided into
the inlet tank of the biogas facility. There are also other pits within the system, which are used to aid the direction
of flow, cleaning blockages and other maintenance purposes. Experimental biogas facilities originally included an
inlet tank, a biogas chamber, a hydraulic chamber, and a soak pit.
Mr. Jainal, a local contractor, was trained to construct the first system and contracted to construct all the systems.
He was trained as a part of a community participation and local capacity building effort.
The wastewater quality characteristics of the all options studied in Bauniabad and Agargao systems were only
observed over a period of approximately 6 months due to financial limitations. During this time, the biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured because they indicate the rates
of organic pollution concentrations (the COD was measured using the potassium dichromate method). It was
observed that the average BOD and COD of influent (wastewater before entering the biogas chamber) were 1950
mg/l and 2800 mg/l, respectively, and the average BOD and COD of effluent (wastewater after exiting the soak
pit) were 210 mg/l and 301 mg/l, respectively (Hoque, 1999). The overall removal of the total BOD and COD varied
from 62%-87% and 70%-81%, respectively.
Overall, the biogas based sewerage system was found to be the most acceptable option; the per capita installation
cost was the lowest, it was assumed that there was no/minimum operation and maintenance requirement, and it
also produced biogas for cooking for about 12 families.
A survey concerning the willingness to pay for the installation, operation and maintenance of various options
for WS was conducted before the testing of the options. The median value for baseline willingness to pay for
a sanitary latrine per household/plot was almost nothing. Therefore, the first biogas based sewerage system
and other tested options were installed free, and two more systems were installed on a cost-sharing basis. The
clients/users of the system, installed on a cost-sharing basis, contributed an average of approximately $US 4 per
household towards the sharing of costs for the installation of the biogas based sewerage system, and agreed to
bear 100% of the costs associated with the maintenance of the drainage systems and pipelines.
2.3.2 Water supply
The people of Bauniabad were simultaneously facing extreme scarcity of domestic water. They demanded piped
water supply for a sustainable solution. DWASA had no provision to install deep tube-well and supply piped water
to the slum at that time. The installation of a deep tube-well and a distribution system was estimated to cost
about $US 10,000. At that time, more than 11 other NGOs were in Bauniabad working on health and welfare issues,
with most of the organizations also carrying out micro-credit and saving-loan related activities. Various possible
arrangements or investments for the capital costs were discussed with the communities and the many NGOs that
were working there. However, none worked out to be acceptable to the stakeholders, as there was no way that the
local people could pay that amount of funds needed for the installation of a piped water system to DWASA.
The Investigator of the project, the elected Ward Commissioner (the then Chairperson of the local Environmental
Health Committee), members of the Environmental Health Committee, people and senior officials of DWASA
approached Mr. Z. Rahman, Mr. Maya and Mr. Hanif, the then Honorable Ministers and State Ministers of Ministry
of LGRD&C (lead ministry of water and sewerage) and DCC, with the request for piped water under the applied
research project.
The Ministers, senior political leaders and government officers visited the area. After the visit, the Ministers
approved a piped water system, but announced a condition that the people will pay 100% of the connection fees
26