A research task by year 10 pupils attempting to fins solutions to global water problems.

3.  Population of 150 million
 Population density of over 1100 people per sq. km
(compared to the USA at just 33)
 GDP per capita of just $848
 Water shortage and bad sanitation effects urban
and rural areas
 In rural areas, just 16% of people use latrines
regularly
 Slums in urban areas have particularly bad
sanitation (3.4 million people in slums in Dhaka)

5.  Demand for water in Dhaka city is over
2.2billion litres a day
 The city can only produce up to 1.9 billion
litres
 Summer droughts and hot weather make it
worse
 Water that is available is usually dirty or
contaminated with arsenic
 Arsenic contaminated wells are painted red –
people have to walk further to access water

6.  Little use of latrines
 Diarrheal illnesses kill over 100,000 children
every year
 Diarrhoea is linked to poor maternal health,
bad fertility, poor child survival chances and
malnutrition
 1 gram of faecal matter is home to 1 million
bacteria, 1,000 parasites and 100 worm eggs
 75 million people in Bangladesh have no
sanitation services

9.  Devices have been produced like the “Water Canary” which
use a sample of water taken by the user to instantly
determine whether that water is drinkable or not.
 This system uses light so does not need expensive chemicals,
this saves cost for the user and it is versatile to be used in
places where water sanitation is poor such as Bangladesh.
 Pros: does not require specialist training, relatively cheap
running cost, can prevent people drinking contaminated
water, saves lives.
 Cons: Once the water is shown as contaminated then there is
nothing the user can do but find another drinking source
which may not be convenient.

11.  Other devices such as the “Lifesaver bottle” incorporate a
extremely fine filter technology to filter out all bacteria and
viruses. This makes the water drinkable from any source.
 The filter is useable for 15,000 litres of water. Once this is
reached the system shuts off so contaminated water can not
be drunk. Once the filter is easily replaced and then the
bottle is usable for another 15,000 litres.
 Pros: Can make water drinkable from any source, stops
spread of water borne diseases, saves lives.
 Cons: The filter does have to eventually be replaced, a water
source, contaminated or not is required for this bottle.

13.  Finally products like the “Reverse Osmosis Sanitation
system” (ROSS) use movement generated by wheels to pass
filters through a tank of water which cleans it of bacteria and
viruses.
 Can carry 50 litres of water in one tank and stops the person
having to carry the volume of water as they can simply roll it.
 Also acts as a storage device for a large quantities of water.
 Pros: Completely cleans the water of diseases or bacteria,
prevents spread of water borne diseases, acts as a storage
device.
 Cons: Does require the user the walk with the device to pass
the filters across the tank, filter requires replacing after
about one year of constant use.

15.  Investment into improvement/construction of substantial
sewage systems which can safely dispose of sewage waste
products.
 This will reduce cases of cholera and dysentery and also limit
the number of deaths from these diseases.
 Prevents cross-contamination of sewage waste and drinking
water in communities.
 Pros: Safely removes waste from communities with large
numbers of people, limits number of deaths from cholera
and dysentery.
 Cons: Very expensive must be funded by governments
and/or aid organisations.

17.  Also investments into providing safe and clean water in
communal areas in the form of taps or stand pipes.
 The water for these taps could be sourced from boreholes
which use unpolluted ground water as their sources.
 Reduces number of deaths from drinking polluted water by
providing a reliable clean source.
 Pros: Provides clean un polluted water for communal use,
provides a constant supply of water nearby to communities,
prevents dehydration and illnesses caused by drinking
polluted water.
 Cons: Expensive needs to be implemented by governments
or aid organisations.