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It was observed that initially those who paid for the connections, paid for connection and a meter, but they were not provided with the meter, as DWASA did not have many meters to supply. Although majority of the households were connected, many could not show papers. As mentioned earlier, some claimed that they had given money to ‘middlemen’ (intermediaries), who never gave them the papers. There were no DWASA records or any existing local documents that existed that showed the actual number of connections. After a few consultations, DWASA agreed to settle the issue through installment payments. After discussions with the local people, it was decided that a general approach and a local institutional development approach about water management would be attempted. Accordingly, a local institution was formed at Block A, as it showed the immediate interest for it. The main objectives of the institution are to resolve the illegal connections, outstanding water billing problems and other sanitation related issues, and develop a local institutional model for the others. In view of the suggestions, a 21–member committee was announced on 21 December 2002 named “Turag Samity”. Out of the 21 members, there are 8 female and 13 male members in the committee. The committee has a 7-member executive committee (3 female and 4 male members) having the following portfolio: Chairperson-1, Vice Chairperson-1, General Secretary-1, Treasurer-1 (female), Organizing Secretary-1 (female), and Executive Members-2 (1-female). The 21-member Turag Samity will operate the overall water billing system of DWASA and conduct local simple repair work as requested by the people. DWASA could not formally accept the Institution at its current stage, as it did not fulfill the WASA rules, regulations and requirements. It was agreed that Turag would work under the umbrella of EPRC as it continues to maintain the technical advisor/research role, while EPRC will build the capacity of ‘Turag’. Turag, EPRC and DWASA will form a team to address the situation. 5.7 Conclusions The access to safe water provisions changed from hand pumps to piped water over the period (1996-Present). All the residents of the settlement are currently using piped water for almost all-domestic water. DWASA, also a partner of the research project, made special provisions to install the piped water system for the poor as part of action based research based on the request of the community and senior political leaders. This has been a significant achievement for the people and the project. The quality of water was observed to be safe at the pump house. However, the samples from a few points in the distribution system indicated fecal coliform contamination. As mentioned earlier, there are no provisions for chlorination or any other kind of disinfection for the water, which is the same situation with most of the piped water systems in Bangladesh. The contamination in the system may have occurred due to faults in the distribution system caused by inappropriate household connections or the storage of the water in the constructed brick/ concrete tanks that caused the contaminated water to back flow into the system because of the unstable pressure in the system. However, only minor indicative water testing was conducted in Bauniabad, and it was not enough for drawing conclusive results. Usually water is collected and managed by women. Piped water has reduced the work and time load on them as they no more have to stand in a queue or walk and work hard to collect the water from hand pumps. However, the educational component about the sanitary management of water by the women was missing. The majority of the households had got personally arranged connections which were not approved by DWASA, which is regarded illegal. The institutional aspects in this regard are very important for the sustained availability of safe piped water. A local institution within the settlement, ‘Turag Samity’, for managing the connections, billing, common repair and other issues is being piloted, but it is too early to conclude if such an arrangement would work adequately. 5.8 Further Steps to be Taken There is immediate need to study the sustainability potentials of the piped water system in Bauniabad, and this type of study could be replicated in some other parts of the country facing similar situations. The following suggestions could aid in conducting an effective study: To conduct technological/engineering investigations and test the quality of water through a properly designed method in order to determine the associated risks factors of contamination and guide through possible mitigation, if found contaminated. 38
To study the impact of piped water on the livelihood of the urban poor women. To pilot the integration of educational components on the operation and maintenance of the piped water system and proper hygiene practices based on the needs of the various stakeholders and study its impacts. To help ‘Turag Samity’ in building its capacity as a local institution, linking it with DWASA, concerning the following aspects: (i) establishing a system for regular billing and collection of the tariffs, (ii) minor repairing not under DWASA responsibilities, and (iii) reducing water losses and pollution. To develop the ability of “Turag Samity” to be able to both negotiate with DWASA and address other management aspects, which can be achieved through training that should be followed-up every few years. After capacity building efforts, the people of Block A could independently assume these important responsibilities, and a similar arrangement may be extended to all the blocks, leading to better application of institutional issues. 39
Page 2 and 3: Authors Dr. Bilqis Amin Hoque, Envi
Page 5 and 6: Contents Foreword 5 Executive Summa
Page 7 and 8: Foreword Water and sanitation (WS)
Page 9 and 10: drinking water. All the various sam
Page 11 and 12: Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Page 13 and 14: List of Tables, Figures, Maps and P
Page 15: List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
Page 18 and 19: Photo 1.1 : A Street in Bauniabad P
Page 20 and 21: Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Backgrou
Page 22 and 23: Bauniabad was established as a spec
Page 24 and 25: 2.2 Water and Sanitation Educationa
Page 26 and 27: system in Bauniabad. For the trial
Page 28 and 29: scopes (financial resources) to obs
Page 30 and 31: Chapter 3 Methodology The cross-sec
Page 32 and 33: Chapter 4 Social Variables The soci
Page 34 and 35: when the people found the biogas ba
Page 36 and 37: Table 5.1: Physical performance and
Page 38 and 39: As the supply was not continuous, t
Page 42 and 43: Chapter 6 Sanitation Sanitation pro
Page 44 and 45: 6.3 Costs and Financial Aspects The
Page 46 and 47: and E in different years (1996-2002
Page 48 and 49: The effluents from the systems of B
Page 50 and 51: 48 • There should be research and
Page 52 and 53: 7.4 Observations of Water Use Pract
Page 54 and 55: Chapter 8 Lessons Learned and Recom
Page 56 and 57: the people had access to safe hygie
Page 58 and 59: Appendix 1 Summary Report of the Fi
Page 60 and 61: 14:00-15:30 Technical Session II co
Page 62 and 63: Appendix 2 Base Line Survey Form St
Page 64 and 65: SANITATION S-1: Use of Latrine:
Page 66 and 67: Table A-3.1: Results of the analysi
Page 68 and 69: 66 Table A-4.1: Sources of water us
Page 70 and 71: Table A-4.3: Sanitation practices i
Page 72: 70
Page 75 and 76: human poverty. UNDP, New York. UNIC
Page 77: Edited by L.S. Clesceri, A.E. Green

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