Sustaining safely managed drinking water services in rural schools in Chandpur District, Bangladesh

This study explores the benefits of data loggers, which attach to the handle of a handpump, estimating water usage and performance

Abstract

The Government of Bangladesh estimates over 100,000 primary, secondary, private and Madrassa schools need to provide safe and reliable water to every child, every day. Most schools rely on tubewells to provide low-cost and convenient groundwater. Monitoring and improving the delivery of safe water services is a major challenge.

This pilot study in Chandpur District explores the benefits of new, automated data loggers, which attach to the handle of a handpump and report data, estimating daily and hourly water usage and changes in performance, such as seasonal demand or downtime. The latter may be due to no usage (holidays, alternatives) or failure events.

Understanding and responding to variable usage and failure events will help to monitor infrastructure, improve management systems, and guide future planning and investment.

This work was supported by ‘REACH: Improving Water Security for the poor’ programme, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development

Citation

REACH (2018) Sustaining safely managed drinking water services in rural schools in Chandpur District, Bangladesh. REACH Discussion Brief, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Sustaining safely managed drinking water services in rural schools in Chandpur District, Bangladesh

Published 1 April 2018