AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026, Bangladesh

2.Expected Beneficiaries

18 households, approximately 80 people

3.Local Partner

Skywater Bangladesh Ltd. https://skywaterbangladesh.com/home/

4.Project Description

1)Background and water problems at the target site

Morrelganj Upazila, in Bagerhat District, Khulna Division, is a rural area located on the southwestern coast of Bangladesh. The project target area is Uttar Sutalori Village Ward No-5, with 625 households and a population of 3,152. The residents are affected by water problems, as they must depend on water sources from ponds and wells far from the community, or on buying from water sellers.

2)Progress of activities

(1)Staff Orientation

A four-day-long orientation for the project staff was held at Skywater Bangladesh (SB) Ltd.’s offices in Morrelganj, on 29-30 December 2025 and 3-4 January 2026, with five participants.

(2)Preparing a social map

People from different parts of the village were invited to gather in the yard of a house in Uttar Sutalori Village (Ward No.5) to prepare a social map of the village, with support from Skywater Bangladesh (SB) Ltd.

(3) Baseline survey of over 146 households

Interviews with more than 146 households were conducted in Ward No.5 of Uttar Sutalori Village. The survey was completed within two months. Based on information gathered from community members during preparation of the social map, and wealth-ranking exercises, door-to-door visits were conducted to verify and cross-check the data, ensuring its accuracy.

(4)Selecting beneficiaries and gaining consensus

The criteria for selection of the households are shown below. Based on these criteria, 18 beneficiaries from the poor and extremely poor categories were selected. The beneficiaries were familiar with AMAMIZU tanks and the water quality they provide, so all agreed to install them in their households, and to pay the contribution fee.

Qualifying criteria:

① A household whose main drinking water source is located more than 0.5 kilometers away

② A household where the work of fetching drinking water from the main source is done mainly by women and/or girls (mother, grandmother, and female children)

③ A household where the amount of drinking water available is not sufficient to meet the daily demand of the household

④ A household where the quality of drinking water is not at a level considered appropriate for drinking

⑤ A household where family members cannot obtain safe and adequate drinking water from other water sources at an affordable price or for free throughout the year

⑥ A household where no support for ensuring safe and affordable drinking water is provided by the central government, local government, NGOs, or the private sector

⑦ A household which is able to pay the Project’s contribution fee of 3,000 BDT (about 24 USD)

⑧ A household whose roofing material is suitable for collecting rainwater (preferably not a thatched roof)

(5) Method of fund collection & pouch distribution

A meeting was held, where it was proposed that beneficiaries pay around 15% (3,000BDT) of the total cost of installing two AMAMIZU tanks. Most of the people told us that they could not pay the money at one time because it is a large amount. However, they could afford the fee of they were given two or more months to make the deposit. Hearing their opinions, we later distributed some pouches with the 4°C logo for them to deposit the money by themselves. All contributions were collected between January and April 2026. The total amount of money collected was 3,000BDT x 18HH = 54,000BDT.

(6)AMAMIZU tank construction

36 AMAMIZU tanks were properly made, following the construction manual from Skywater Bangladesh (SB) Ltd. Production started in the last week of February 2026 and ended in the 3rd week of April 2026.

(8)Upcoming activities

Activity	May	June	July	August
Platform construction	○	○
AMAMIZU system installation	○	○
O & M training for beneficiaries after installation of AMAMIZU systems		○	○
Follow-up visits to each household		○	○
Water quality testing			○
Knowledge and experience sharing workshop			○
Project completion report				○

【Previous post】

▼2026.3.24 4°C AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026 Begins!▼

https://www.waterforum.jp/en/news/24284/

For more information about AQUA PROGRAM and its past projects, please visit the following website:

https://www.waterforum.jp/en/what-we-do/yondoshi/

(Reported by Takejiro Suzuki, Project Manager)