Using technology for water disinfection
The Safe Drinking Water project in Bangladesh is developed by the Austrian company Helioz together with local partners in Bangladesh - the Center for Disability in Development and Voices of South Bangladesh. Sun’s UV-radiation eliminates harmful pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa in contaminated water filled in PET plastic bottles. The project uses a solar powered UV- measurement device (WADI) which serves as an indicator for the process of solar water disinfection (SODIS), visualising the disinfection process in PET bottles.
As part of the project 7000 water disinfection devices have been distributed for free to local communities, resulting in avoiding 14 000 tCO2 to be emitted in the atmosphere per year. The lifetime of WADI devices goes beyond 5 years. The project is 100% financed by carbon credit revenues and 80% of community facilitators responsible for distribution of devices and monitoring are women.
The avoided emissions thanks to solar water disinfection with WADI devices are calculated following a Gold Standard methodology, even though the project has not obtained a Gold Standard certification. Monitoring and verification is performed by an independent third-party - the BOKU Centre for Global Change, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. The project duration is 5 years, ending in 2022 and potential continuation is envisioned as a Gold Standard certified project.
Improving lives and saving money
The project is implemented in a rural coastal area in the south-western part of the Bangladesh - Khulna Division in Bagerhat District, which is severely affected by climate change consequences, including heavy rainfall, floods and sea-level rise. Sea level rise is causing salinification of drinking water sources, forcing people to harvest rainwater and from ponds. To disinfect surface water local people boil water two to three times a day. This not only causing indoor pollution, but is also expensive - each household needs 320 kg of firewood per month which costs 15€. Families which cannot afford buying the wood, spend on average 35 hours per month collecting firewood. Gas cookers are rarely used since gas is very expensive. An alternative to boiling water is using clothes or Fitkiri - a flocculant which removes particles and dirt from the water. In the absence of the project, it is estimated that 30% of the water will be consumed without boiling.
Project activities include:
Providing safe drinking water to more than 39 150 people in Bangladesh by distributing for free 7000 solar powered UV-measurement devices (WADI).
Carrying out water measurement tests to ensure the effectiveness of WADI under local circumstances
Developing profound knowledge and community-based acceptancy for the usage of WADI in the project area, as a model region for further CO2-projects in Bangladesh.
Carrying out stakeholder workshops with local NGOs, community leaders, community facilitators, and health workers.
Field visit to monitor project activities as well as acceptance of WADI on site.
Local people in the project area successfully replaced disinfecting water by boiling with Solar Water Disinfection supported by the WADI device. This was achieved through awareness raising, capacity building and workshops. Nowadays no firewood for drinking water purification is needed anymore. Families are sharing their WADI device with neighbours and friends so that more people can benefit from the new technology. Savings from not buying firewood are used for education, food and clothing.
As part of the project 7000 water disinfection devices have been distributed for free to local communities. The project is 100% financed by carbon credit revenues and 80% of community facilitators responsible for distribution of devices and monitoring are women.