Darvish Yu Water Fund: 18th project, Water for the Poor, Sharankhola Upazila, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh, is now underway! - News

Darvish Yu Water Fund is now underway! Above is an image of project completion.

Please visit the following website for the details on the Darvish Yu Water Foundation:

１．Project Title

Water for the Poor, Sharankhola Upazila, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh

２．Project Site

Bakultala Community, Rayenda Village, South Khali Union, SHarankhola Upazila, Bagerhat District, Khulna Division, Bangladesh

Location of South Khali Union, Khulna Division

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Layout Plan of Project Site

JJS office complex: The proposed RWHS will be constructed between the cyclone shelter and office buildings: four 10,000 liter tanks, a pond and a pond sand filter (PSF) to the south.

３．Project Period

July 2025 to February 2026

４．Local Partner

Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS) is a non-government, non-profit social and environmental development organization that has been working since 1985 in the south-west coastal region of Bangladesh. JJS has extensive experience in implementing water-related projects in the region. Currently, with support from Shapla Neer (Japan), JJS is implementing the PROSTUTI Project, focusing on raising tube well platforms, establishing rainwater harvesting systems, and ensuring water access in cyclone shelters.

Click here for details: www.jjsbangladesh.org

５．Background and Water Problems at the Target Site

The south-west coastal region of Bangladesh faces acute water-related challenges due to climate-induced hazards like cyclones, tidal surges, and increasing salinity. The groundwater is not suitable for drinking, being contaminated with salinity and iron. As a result, communities must rely heavily on surface water sources such as ponds and rainwater. However, these sources often dry up during the summer, creating severe water shortages. Many families, especially women and children, must walk long distances to collect water, and some are forced to buy drinking water from vendors.　

Most households lack proper rainwater harvesting systems or functional tube wells. Public institutions like schools and cyclone shelters also lack safe water access. This project seeks to address these issues by installing inclusive rainwater harvesting systems（RWHS） to ensure year-round access to safe drinking water, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Bakultala residents collect unsafe water from the pond during a water crisis in the dry season.

Pond sand filter inactive due to drying up of a pond during the dry season. It will become functional again during the rainy season when the pond refills.

Community people collect drinking water from long distances.

Community members waiting to collect drinking water from the PSF.

６．Project Description

The project will provide 500 vulnerable residents of South Khali Union with year-round access to safe drinking water through community-based rainwater harvesting systems near cyclone shelters. This will reduce reliance on saline or seasonal sources and ease the burden on women and children who must travel long distances for water. During disasters, sheltered populations will have immediate access to safe water, thus improving hygiene and reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. Capacity-building activities of the management committee and hygiene awareness campaigns for the community and school will enhance residents’ skills in the use and maintenance of the systems, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact beyond the project’s duration.　

【Facilities】

Establishing a Community-level RWHS with a Storage Capacity of 40,000 liters:

　The project will install a RWHS on a 2-decimal portion of land within JJS’s 100-decimal (1decimal=40.47m2)office complex, which includes an office building and a small cyclone shelter. During disasters, this shelter can accommodate around 300 people. JJS will contribute the land required for the system’s establishment. Once completed, the facility will provide reliable drinking water both during regular periods and emergencies. The project will initiate water quality testing by a recognized agency.

【Sessions】

Formation and Meeting

A 10-member community-based management committee will be formed. A day-long orientation session will be conducted to build the committee’s capacity in the proper operations, maintenance, and management of the RWHS. Additionally, a toolkit will be provided to the committee for minor repairs and routine maintenance, promoting sustainability and community ownership of the system.

Hygiene Awareness Campaigns

　Two courtyard sessions will be organized in the community, and one session for the local primary school will be held.

A community-based RWHS constructed in another area with JJS support, consisting of 2 tanks. This project will install RWHS with 4 tanks.

７．Expected Beneficiaries

500 direct beneficiaries (100 households – 174 men, 176 women, 150 children)

８．Expected outcomes

500 direct beneficiaries (100 households – 174 men, 176 women, 150 children) receiving RWHS
Formation of a management committee and capacity-building sessions
Hygiene awareness campaigns for the community and school

　This project will contribute to progress towards achievement of the SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015, especially:

The Darvish Yu Water Fund was established in 2007.

▼For more information about the Fund and its past projects, please visit the following website:▼

https://www.waterforum.jp/what-we-do/darvish/

【Contact info】

Japan Water Forum

TEL: +81-(0)3-5645-8040 Fax: +81-(0)3-5645-8041

office［at］waterforum.jp *Please change［at］to @

(Reported by Takejiro Suzuki, Project Manager)