Two water purification plants funded by Abul Khair Group have begun supplying drinking water to residents of Khagraghat and Kaikhali in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, aiming to ease the burden of water collection on women and girls.
Sheikh Shabab Ahmed, head of corporate affairs and legal at Abul Khair Group, inaugurated the reverse osmosis plants yesterday (17 October), according to the press release.
One plant is located in front of Nur Uddin's house in Khagraghat, while the other stands in front of Alauddin Mallick's house in Kaikhali.
Situated on the edge of the Sundarbans, Shyamnagar is surrounded by water, yet many residents struggle to access drinking water free from salinity. The shortage affects daily life, with women often travelling long distances to collect water for their families.
Residents said girls in Khagraghat and Kaikhali had missed school to fetch water from distant tube wells and ponds. Rainwater harvesting offered relief for two to three months during the monsoon, leaving families facing shortages during the rest of the year.
Salinity in local soil and ponds increased further following cyclones Sidr and Aila, compounding the difficulties.
For Rahima Begum, a 45-year-old homemaker from Khagraghat, the new supply has brought relief.
"Now, fresh-tasting water flows at the turn of a tap. This technology has given us a new lease on life," she said.
Stored rainwater had helped her family during the monsoon, but drinking saline water during the remaining months had been a constant ordeal, she explained. Her children frequently suffered from stomach ailments.
Amena Khatun, a Kaikhali resident in her sixties, recalled walking two to three miles to collect a single pitcher of fresh water.
"Now that a tap has been installed near our homes, it feels like we have been given a new life," she said.
Rahima Begum said access to water closer to home also meant girls could attend school more regularly rather than spend time collecting it.
Sheikh Shabab Ahmed said the severity of the coastal water crisis had prompted the group to support the project.
"We wanted to provide a sustainable solution that would directly help protect people's lives and support children's growth and development," he said.
Dr Amjad Hossain, a physician in Shyamnagar, discussed concerns associated with high iron content in water, including its reddish appearance, bitter taste and possible gastrointestinal and dental problems.
He said the reddish colour and bitter taste were no longer evident in the treated water.
Tests conducted by the Department of Public Health Engineering's Khulna Regional Laboratory found substantially lower levels of total dissolved solids following treatment. The measurement indicates the concentration of dissolved salts and minerals in water.
In Kaikhali, water from a conventional tube well recorded total dissolved solids of 8,217 milligrams per litre, compared with 28 milligrams per litre after treatment.
In Khagraghat, the level fell from 4,081 to 92 milligrams per litre. Iron concentration in Kaikhali's water decreased from one milligram per litre to 0.01 milligrams per litre.
The plants also use digital cards to control water collection. Water flows when a user holds the card against the tap and stops when it is removed, helping reduce unnecessary waste.
Each plant has 10 solar panels to power its pumps. Solar energy reduces reliance on the rural electricity grid, helps limit electricity costs and makes the supply less vulnerable to power outages.
The initiative demonstrates how renewable energy can support more reliable and environmentally sustainable water services in rural communities.
The project has also created opportunities for local young people to earn an income and develop entrepreneurial skills.
Members of Shorub Youth Club, a Shyamnagar-based youth organisation, operate the plants. Their responsibilities include operations, maintenance and water distribution, strengthening community participation in managing the facilities.
For families in the two villages, the nearby taps offer more than easier access to water. Residents hope they will help girls remain in school, reduce the time women spend collecting water and support children's health and wellbeing.
The initiative also seeks to address concerns associated with prolonged exposure to saline water, including concerns about women's reproductive health.
By bringing treated drinking water closer to homes, the project aims to support better health, greater dignity and an improved quality of life for women and the wider community.