Drinkable water crisis escalating in coastal areas

The impact of climate change has resulted in the scarcity of clean water becoming a major issue. Especially in the southern region of the country, its effects are more pronounced. The groundwater level is steadily decreasing here, leading to the necessity of deep tube well installation. As a result, people in the coastal areas are compelled to consume salty water.

According to a study, nearly five crore people in Bangladesh's coastal areas are facing a crisis of saline water due to rising salt levels in surface and groundwater, compounded by climate change.

Khulna's salinity-affected areas are chosen for research to tackle water salinity. Solar-powered water purification filters are employed. Approximately 68% of users express satisfaction with them.

This research is conducted in the Dacope and Batiaghata upazilas of Khulna by Canadian water resource engineer Sabrina Rashid Sheonty, founder and director of Tetra (a startup addressing water-related issues). Tetra works on water salinity in coastal areas.

Sabrina, along with her two friends from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), developed the solar-powered water purification filter.

Sabrina works as a water resource engineer and consultant in Canada, specializing in hydro-technical designs and projects related to flood, river erosion, and drainage there and in Bangladesh. She's also been engaged in research across different sectors for over six years.

Sabrina conducts research to safeguard the health of the coastal communities that are facing health risks due to drinking saline water.

Dr. Nahida Sultana, a senior clinical pathologist at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said, "It is not advisable for an adult to consume more than 5 grams of salt daily. Excessive salt intake can lead to various diseases, including stroke and heart attack."

However, coastal communities consume excessive salt daily, which enters their bodies through water. Researchers revealed in their report that drinking saline water has increased the rate of miscarriages among women in the southern region.

Alongside health risks, increased salinity in water is also reducing agricultural productivity.

Contacted, Al-Amin, agriculture extension officer of Kahalu upazila in Bogura, said, "Flooding and waterlogging in Kahalu have submerged croplands for an extended period, leading to soil infertility."

According to a research finding, due to the inundation of croplands with saline water in coastal areas, many farmers have switched professions, leaving crop cultivation.

Assistant Professor of Government Azizul Haque College in Bogura Abu Sayed said, "Coastal salinity poses a significant environmental challenge. Rising sea levels due to global warming worsen this issue, especially affecting coastal agricultural areas."

"The seawater intrusion inland has increased, causing more land to be flooded with saltwater, reducing agricultural productivity. Moreover, saline soil can't support natural vegetation, disrupting environmental activities," he added.

He suggests that saline water could potentially be utilized in agriculture through salt production and shrimp farming. Agricultural research institutions could address this issue by discovering salt-tolerant rice varieties or developing farming practices resilient to salinity.

Naturally, southern coastal areas of Bangladesh do not face a water crisis, but there's a severe shortage of clean water due to high salinity levels in most water sources.

A research paper from Jahangirnagar University, BRAC, and Hokkaido University in Japan's Environmental Science departments highlights that coastal residents in Bangladesh are unaware of high salt intake risks, including its entry into the body through water. Villagers suffer from skin diseases, hair loss, diarrhea, gastric issues, high blood pressure, and other salt-related diseases due to saline water usage.

Saline water in coastal areas is a major cause of high blood pressure and poses risks for pregnant women, leading to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, as well as increased infant mortality.

Sabrina Rashid Sheonty, a Canadian water resource engineer, said, "Coastal residents need to be aware of the long-term effects of unsafe saline water on health. Ensuring access to clean drinking water is essential."