Arsenic Mitigation in Rural Bangladesh: A Policy-Mix for Supplying Safe Water in Badly Affected Areas of Meherpur District

Description

Based on micro-level empirical research, this book uniquely addresses the problem of arsenic contamination in ground water in Bangladesh in a comprehensive way. At the outset, the book puts forward the opinions of experts regarding the cause of arsenic contamination in ground water in Bangladesh, followed by sample surveys depicting socioeconomic and arsenic-related situations in three arsenic-affected villages in Meherpur district, Bangladesh. The major contribution of the author is the mixed-integer Pareto optimality model (tested and proved through computer simulation), developed in order to supply safe water to the badly affected people in Taranagar village. The model takes into account such issues as the costs of different safe water options, exposure to arsenic and bacteria, distance of the water source from home, indigenous cultural traits, environmental safety and acceptability of the options to the people. Besides successful development and application of the model, the book outlines ways to persuade people to change their habits regarding drinking tube-well water and proposes a system through which safe water can be supplied to Taranagar village. The book emphasizes socioeconomic, environmental and administrative aspects of selecting an optimal safe water option and ensuring consumption from safe water sources, which can be tested for other arsenic-affected areas as well. With relevant, attractive charts, tables, graphs, flowcharts and other graphics and with lucid language, the book makes rather difficult theoretical economics issues easily comprehensible and interesting to general readers, graduate and undergraduate students, researchers and NGO/GO workers who are dedicated to providing safe water to people affected by arsenic contamination. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxiv Introduction (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 1-19 Opinions of Experts on the Cause of Contamination (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 21-26 Social Survey in the Study Area (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 27-35 Available Safe Water Options (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 37-42 A Model for Attaining Guidelines to Select Optimal Safe Water Option(s) and to Specify their Locations (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 43-51 Simulation Results (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 53-58 Mechanisms to Convince People to Adopt Safe Water Options (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 59-65 A System for Providing Safe Water (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 67-72 Taranagar from 2000 to 2012: Changes in Arsenic-Related Situation (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 73-83 Conclusions (Wardatul Akmam)....Pages 85-88 Back Matter ....Pages 89-113