Implementation of Water Safety Plan Considering Climatic Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangladesh: A Study on Patuakhali Pourashava Water Supply System

Disaster extreme events and its variability have been posing a substantial threat to the water supply system considering the physical, chemical and biological hazards. The aim of this research is to find out the major disaster risks which have subsequent impacts on water supply system. To attain the research objectives both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through household level questionnaire survey, visual observation, literature review, key informants interview (KII), sanitary inspection and laboratory analysis for water quality testing. The study was conducted among 100 households of Patuakhali Pourashava. Water samples were collected from randomly selected households and pumping stations from different wards of the study area. About 54 percent of the respondents marked that increase of temperature, excessive rainfall and frequent storms are common disaster risks in the study area and around 67 percent of them mentioned that these disasters have impacts on water supply system. Erratic heavy rainfalls, cyclones and sometimes inundation due to river floods the user connection for few hours or number of days which allows the contaminated water to entry into the pipeline when there is no pressure. The study reveals that almost 89 percent of Pourashava dwellers do not trust on the quality of water that they get from supply system, so they do not use supply water for drinking. Nearly 11 percent of the dwellers drink supply water as they think the supplied water is not contaminated. About 39 percent of the respondents mentioned that the technology has been becoming non-functional and the water quality is degrading during pre-monsoon period and water does not meet the demand in some parts of the supply system. Therefore, this particular research will provide a condensed view for implementing of water safety plan for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in safe drinking water management considering resilience.