Reducing Water Poverty in Coastal Bangladesh: Is Rainwater Harvesting a Sustainable Solution? By MOHAMMAD RAFIQUL ISLAM MASTER OF SCIENCE ENVIRENMENTAL AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE August, 2017 1 | P a g e Reducing Water Poverty in Coastal Bangladesh: Is Rainwater Harvesting a Sustainable Solution? BY MOHAMMAD RAFIQUL ISLAM Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of “Master of Science Environmental and Energy Management” Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE August, 2017 2 | P a g e This research project was approved by Ethics Committee (CE) Faculty of Behavioural Sciences of the University of Twente, Certificate Number BCE17620. The thesis titled “Reducing Water Poverty in Coastal Bangladesh: Is Rainwater Harvesting a Sustainable Solution?” submitted by Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, ID No. S1797522, Session 2016-2017 has been submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Master of Science in Environmental and Energy Management. Supervisors Dr. Joy S. Clancy (First Supervisor) Professor Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social Sciences University of Twente Enschede, the Netherlands Dr. Nthabiseng Mohlakoana (Second Supervisor) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social Sciences University of Twente Enschede, the Netherlands Master of Environmental and Energy Management Programme University of Twente Academic Year 2016/2017 3 | P a g e Declaration It is hereby declared that this thesis or any part of this thesis has not been submitted elsewhere for the award of any degree or diploma. It has also followed no harm principle. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Student ID: S1797522 4 | P a g e Acknowledgement As this thesis sheds the light on my personal and professional background, it is important to acknowledge my parents and the people who teach me how to respect nature, community, and social justice. During my study at Dhaka University, Professor M. Anwar Hossen always encouraged me to study the impacts of water governance on local/marginal community. During this thesis stage, his valuable suggestion regarding field site selection, research assistant recruitment, preparing questionnaire was very helpful and effective for me. At University of Twente (UT), Dr. Joy S. Clancy and Dr. Nthabiseng Mohlakoana as supervisor were very helpful and cooperative to promote my understanding of this issue. Besides my supervisors at UT, I am grateful to Dr. Kris Lulofs for his valuable suggestion, information, and ideas regarding my thesis. I am also grateful to the UT for awarding me the University of Twente Scholarship and Dopper Foundation for their funding support regarding my fieldwork. Without their support, it was very difficult to complete my thesis. I would also like to thank to Taposh (Student, Chila), Arif (Fisherman), Imran (Student, Dhaka University), Dr. Shimul Chowdhury, and Biplob (Student, Chila) for helping me during questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussion. Furthermore, I must acknowledge to Shohor Banu Begum, Dr. Bipul Chwodhury, Arcona Roi, Mohon Bachar, and Biswanath Bala for their valuable time and data and participate as case study participants. Without their supportive mentality it was very difficult to finish my field work. I am also grateful to Amro (Student, UT), Fizul (Student UT), Elison (Student, UT), Helen (Student, UT), Ercan (Student, UT), Hilde van Meerendonk-Obinna (MEEM Programme Coordinator, UT), Rinske Koster (MEEM, Programme Coordinator, UT) for their cooperation. Finally I am very much grateful to all participants of the study area (Chila Union) for their valuable information and time. 5 | P a g e Abstract The background of this research is water poverty that intensifies survival challenges of coastal people in Bangladesh. More and less precipitation during monsoon and dry season respectively due to climate change, climatic disasters, and salinity are three leading responsible actors for water poverty crisis. This crisis affects socioeconomic status of coastal people, agricultural production, and environment. The focal point of this research is to examine whether Rainwater Harvesting System (RHS1) a sustainable solution for reducing Water Poverty (WP)2 in coastal Bangladesh or not? To reach this objective, examine role of government, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), see socioeconomic status of coastal people, social acceptability, availability of finance, and environmental sustainability of RHS. Socioeconomic, social and ecological system, and sustainability perspective have used as a conceptual framework in this study. Causes and effects of water poverty, alternatives for reducing water poverty, and sustainability of RHS used as analytical strategy. The primary data of this research derived from household survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), case study, and observation of coastal area’s people such as farmers, fishermen, fisherwomen, day laborers, and women. The primary data also collected from water governance expert. The secondary data gathered from different kind of books, journal article (published and unpublished), seminar presentation, newspaper, and other sources related to rain(water) management, rainwater harvesting, transboundary rivers, climate change effect, and sustainability issues. As per research design of this study, the exploratory strategy is more suitable than other methods to analyze the data and information. To advise solution, the relation between water poverty (created by climatic disasters, mismanagement of rainwater, and salinity problems) in coastal areas and alternatives for reducing it and sustainability of RHS analyzed. The role of government regarding finance, training, awareness campaign, and policy about rainwater harvesting needs to improve in utilizing rainwater for resolving water poverty in coastal Bangladesh. Better performance of government also needs to make RHS more sustainable in coastal areas in Bangladesh. 1RHS = Rainwater Harvesting System/Technology 2 Water Poverty = Water Shortage, Water Scarcity, Water Stress 6 | P a g e Table of Contents Page No. Declaration 04 Acknowledgment 05 Abstract 06 Table of Contents 07 List of Tables 10 List of Figures 11 Abbreviations 13 Chapter One Introduction 14 1.1 Background 14 1.2 Water Poverty 15 1.3 Causes of Water Poverty in Bangladesh 16 1.4 Effects of Water Poverty 19 1.5 Objectives of the study 22 1.6 Organization of the study 23 Chapter Two Overview of Potable Water Supply at Coastal Area in Bangladesh 24 2.1 Introduction 24 2.2 Status of Potable Water in Coastal Areas 25 2.2.1 Surface Water 27 2.2.2 Groundwater 28 2.2.3 Other 29 2.3 Conclusion 30 Chapter Three Literature Review 31 3.1 Introduction 31 3.2 Rainwater Harvesting 31 3.2.1 Catchment Area 31 3.2.2Guttering 32 3.2.3 Down pipe 33 7 | P a g e 3.2.4 Storage tank 34 3.2.5 Foul flush diversion 34 3.3 Challenges of Rainwater Harvesting 35 3.4 Rainwater Harvesting and Water Supply 36 3.5 Rainwater Harvesting and Climate Change 37 3.6 Rainwater Harvesting and Agricultural Development 38 3.7 Rainwater Harvesting as Energy Saver 38 3.8 Rainwater Harvesting and Environmental Development 38 3.9 Rainwater Harvesting as Economic Developer 39 3.10 Conclusion 40 Chapter Four Study Site 41 4.1 Introduction 41 4.2 Study site selection 41 4.3 Area and Location 43 4.4 Climate 44 4.5 River Systems 44 4.6 Socioeconomic status of people 44 4.7 Water Supply Alternatives 45 4.8 Conclusion 45 Chapter Five Methodology 46 5.1 Introduction 46 5.2 Research Questions 46 5.3 Sources of Data 46 5.3.1 Primary Data 47 5.3.2 Secondary Data 50 5.4 Data validation 50 5.5 Research Framework 52 5.6 Defining Concept 55 5.7 Analytical Framework 56 5.8 Ethics 57 5.9 Theoretical approach 59 8 | P a g e 5.9.1 Resource Systems 59 5.9.2 Resource Units 59 5.9.3 Governance Systems 60 5.9.4 Users 60 5.9.5 Interaction and outcomes for sustainability 61 5.10 Conclusion 62 Chapter Six Findings 63 6.1 Introduction 63 6.2 Socioeconomic Condition of Participants 63 6.3 Ecological Problems and Water Poverty 64 6.3.1 Dimensions of Water Poverty face by villagers 66 6.4 Alternatives to Solve Water Poverty 73 6.5 Sustainability of Rainwater Harvesting 75 6.5.1 Technical Feasibility 75 6.5.2 Economic Profitability 83 6.5.3 Availability of Finance 90 6.5.4 Governments Roles 94 6.5.5 Social Acceptability 96 6.5.6 Environmental Sustainability 97 6.5.7 Quality 100 6.6 Conclusion 101 Chapter Seven Recommendation and Conclusion 102 Chapter Eight References 107 Appendices 115 9 | P a g e List of Tables Page No. Table 1.1 Peak and lean flow in the major rivers in Bangladesh 18 Table 2.1 Salinity presence in surface water in some coastal districts 27 Table 5.1 Subsystem of SES and related variables for sustainability checking of Rainwater harvesting 59 Table 6.1 Ecological disasters that create water poverty 64 Table 6.2 Dimensions of Water Poverty 66 Table 6.3 Degrees of water poverty in Chila 68 Table 6.4 Local community face WP in the number of months in Chila 70 Table 6.5 RH economically profitable 83 Table 6.6 Is RH improving health? 85 Table 6.7 Extra water collection 86 Table 6.8 Maintenance and operation cost 93 Table 6.9 Policy/permission about RHS 95 Table 6.10 Awareness campaign 96 Table 6.11 Social acceptability of RHS 96 Table 6.12 Quality of collected rainwater 100 10 | P a g e List of Figures