Water, Environment and Sanitation

Water Supply

© UNICEF Bangladesh

A young girl drinking water from a tube well

Bangladesh made great progress in water supply with the widespread use of tube wells. 97% of Bangladeshis have access to a water point. However due to the discovery of arsenic in the ground water, only 76% of these can now be considered safe.

Safe water supplies also depend on sanitation and the practice of good hygiene. Water quality then needs to be monitored and sustained. UNICEF’s activities are designed to give the population a safe, adequate and affordable year-round water supply. This means helping communities gain access to geological and engineering skills that can provide a supply of water, maintain it and monitor its quality. Communities and local government structures need to be able to take up national policies and translate them into practical, long-term strategies to ensure that they have, and can sustain, a supply of safe water.