Coastal communities in Bangladesh are turning to rainwater harvesting and filtration systems as climate change and rising salinity make safe drinking water increasingly difficult to access.
In Dacope, Khulna District, ponds and other water sources surround villages, yet saline intrusion has made much of the available water unsafe for drinking. For many families, securing reliable access to clean water has become a daily challenge.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working with the Government of Bangladesh and supported by the Green Climate Fund, is helping coastal communities strengthen their resilience to climate-related salinity. The programme places particular emphasis on gender-responsive climate adaptation and community-led water management.
UN Volunteer engineers are playing a key role in implementing the initiative. They help assess community needs, select suitable locations, install and maintain rainwater harvesting and filtration systems, and train local water committees to manage the infrastructure independently.
The systems provide communities with a safer alternative to increasingly saline water sources. Water is treated through filtration, including ultraviolet treatment, before being supplied for drinking.
The programme also focuses on education and awareness. UN Volunteers work with residents, schools and community groups to promote water hygiene, safe water use and proper management of water systems.
Engineers monitor technologies including rainwater harvesting systems, pond sand filters and arsenic iron removal plants. They regularly check water quality and system performance, testing indicators such as salinity, pH, total dissolved solids and fecal contamination.
Community-based organisations and female-led water user groups receive regular training on maintenance, operations and financial management. The goal is to ensure that the systems remain functional after direct project support ends and that communities have the technical knowledge required to manage them.
UN Volunteers working in the coastal region say the impact can be seen in everyday life. Access to safer water can reduce the risks associated with contaminated sources, save time spent collecting water and contribute to better health outcomes for children and mothers.
Despite the progress, demand for safe drinking water remains significantly greater than the current capacity of the programme. Many coastal communities continue to lack a dependable source of clean water.
Bangladesh’s experience highlights the growing impact of climate change on basic services and livelihoods. In areas where saline intrusion is making traditional water sources increasingly unreliable, practical infrastructure, community knowledge and local capacity are becoming essential to securing long-term water security.
Scaling up rainwater harvesting solutions and expanding the availability of skilled engineers and volunteers could help more coastal communities gain access to safe drinking water and strengthen their resilience to climate change.
