１．About AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026

AQUA PROGRAM is a joint project of F.D.C. Products Inc., jewelry brand 4°C, and the Japan Water Forum. Its aim is to empower people in developing countries and bring them beauty and inspiration by resolving the serious water problems they face.

Since the program’s establishment in 2008, several projects have been carried out in Kiribati, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Since 2017, we have been working with a rural coastal community in Bangladesh.

In the 2025-2026 project, rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) including AMAMIZU tanks were installed in 18 households in Ward No.5, Uttar Sutalori Village, and training in operations and maintenance took place.

▼AQUA PROGRAM OFFICIAL WEBSITE▼

AQUA PROGRAM contributes to these SDGs:

2.Details of AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026

１）Project title

AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026

２）Project site

Ward No.5, Uttar Sutalori Village in Baraikhali Union, Morrelganj Upazila of Bagerhat, Khulna Division, Bangladesh

Created by Mapchart

３）Beneficiaries

18 households, 95 people

４） Project period

December 2025 to August 2026

５）Local partner

Skywater Bangladesh Ltd.(SBL)

https://skywaterbangladesh.com/home/

６）Background

The project site is an underprivileged and marginalized village. Residents are dependent on unsafe wells and ponds for drinking and domestic use, or they must purchase water.

Fetching water is a daily burden, especially for women, and the cost of buying water puts stress on household budgets. During the dry season, households have no choice but to purchase water to meet their needs, despite insufficient income. They must also spend money on medical supplies and treatments for water-borne diseases such as diarrhea.

７）Main activities

•  Conduct a basic information survey among more than 146 households in Ward No.5.
•  Install rainwater harvesting AMAMIZU tank systems in 18 households.
• Conduct training in usage, maintenance and management of RWHS.
• Conduct knowledge and experience workshops with RWHS beneficiary households in Wards No.5 (last year) and No.4 (the year before last).
• Follow-ups: Status review and guidance on usage, maintenance and management, as well as quality testing of rainwater stored in the systems.

８）Potential impacts

• Women and children will be freed from the burden of collecting water from distant sources.
• 18 new households in Ward No.5 will be able to access safe drinking water by utilizing rainwater.
• Expenses related to medication and medical treatment for water-borne diseases caused by poor drinking water will be reduced.

３．AQUA PROGRAM 202５-２０２６ Photo Album

４．AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026, Voice of a Beneficiary

Mst. Sadea Akhter Mowmi lives with her husband and only child in Morrelganj. Her husband works as a day laborer and occasionally drives a van to support the family. Like many households in the coastal area, the family was facing difficulties in accessing a reliable source of safe drinking water. Before receiving the AMAMIZU system, Sadea had to depend mainly on a distant pond and other local water sources for their daily needs.

Sadea recalls that collecting water was a regular and exhausting part of her daily life. During the dry season, the situation became even more difficult as water sources became less reliable and the quality of water deteriorated. She often had to spend a significant amount of time collecting water, carrying heavy containers home, and managing household responsibilities at the same time.

Before we received the AMAMIZU tank, collecting water was one of the biggest difficulties for our family. I had to spend a lot of time going to the source and bringing water home. Sometimes the water was not clean, but we had no better option. It was especially difficult when I was alone at home with the child.

Sadea also explained that the long distance and heavy workload associated with water collection affected her children’s daily activities. Her situation began to change when the SBL team conducted a household survey and explained the benefits of the 4°C AQUA PROGRAM and the AMAMZIU RWHS. After learning how the system could collect and store rainwater directly at their home, Sadea became interested in receiving one.

Following the approval of her application, an AMAMIZU system was installed at her home. She said that the system quickly became an important source of water for her family, particularly during the rainy season.

After the AMAMIZU tank was installed, I felt a great relief. We no longer have to depend completely on distant water sources. When there is sufficient rainfall, we can collect rainwater at home and store it for later use. This saves us both time and physical effort.

Sadea also mentioned that the training provided by SBL helped her understand the importance of properly maintaining the system. She learned to keep the roof and gutter clean, check the inlet and outlet pipes, keep the tank covered, and regularly inspect the tap and other components. Expressing her gratitude, Sadea said,

The AMMIZU tank has made our daily life much easier. We are grateful to Skywater Bangladesh, Yondoshi Holdings Inc., and the Japan Water Forum for supporting families like ours. We hope to continue taking proper care of the system so that our family can benefit from it for many years.

５．Our Appreciation

This year marks the 10th consecutive year of the 4℃ AQUA PROGRAM, dedicated to improving access to safe drinking water for vulnerable communities in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Actually, AMAMIZU installation work experienced some interruptions due to heavy rainfall in June, lasting almost the whole month. But thanks to experienced staff and help from others, the project was completed successfully despite all the difficulties. With a valued initiative on the part of Yondoshi Holdings Inc., coordination by the Japan Water Forum, and local implementation by Skywater Bangladesh Ltd., the program has continued to make a meaningful contribution to addressing water insecurity in these climate-vulnerable communities. Access to safe drinking water continues to be a serious challenge for a huge number of people. We sincerely hope that this meaningful collaboration will continue to bring sustainable improvements and greater water security to vulnerable communities with the understanding of all beneficiaries, local authorities, and stakeholders.

【Previous post】

▼2026.6.8 Interim Report on AQUA PROGRAM 2025-2026!▼

https://www.waterforum.jp/en/news/24426/

▼ For more information on the AQUA PROGRAM▼

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

（Reported by Takejiro Suzuki, Project Manager)