Rainwater harvesting is making life easier for coastal women by improving access to safe drinking water

In many coastal communities of Bangladesh, access to safe drinking water remains a daily struggle due to salinity, shrinking freshwater sources, and the impacts of climate change. Women and girls often shoulder the burden of walking long distances to collect water, spending hours each day securing a resource essential for their families’ survival. However, rainwater harvesting is now helping ensure access to safe water in the country’s south-western coastal region, while also creating climate-resilient livelihood opportunities through vegetable cultivation.

For years, each morning began with anxiety for Ambia Khatun of North Bedkashi Union in Koyra Upazila, Khulna, as she worried about how to collect safe drinking water for her family. The homemaker constantly faced shortages of clean water and had to walk several kilometres every day to fetch it from distant sources.

At one point, unsafe pond water was her only option. During the dry season, the crisis intensified as ponds dried up, water sources became scarce, and even cooking became difficult.

Recalling those difficult days, Ambia said she was sometimes unable to cook on time because of water shortages. She spent two to three hours daily collecting water, leaving her physically exhausted and often ill.

The water crisis affected her entire family, but conditions have now improved significantly. A 2,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank installed in her yard now provides safe water throughout the year.

The change has transformed her daily routine. Freed from spending hours fetching water, Ambia can now focus on caring for her family and earning an income.

After receiving training in homestead vegetable farming through a project in 2021, she began cultivating vegetables in her yard. She now grows seasonal produce such as bottle gourd, red spinach, chilli, and eggplant, helping meet her family’s nutritional needs while earning extra income from sales.

Ambia’s story reflects the experience of many women in Bangladesh’s south-western coastal belt, where access to safe drinking water has long been a serious challenge.

Rising salinity in rivers and groundwater, sea-level rise, and inadequate infrastructure have made clean water increasingly difficult to obtain, with women carrying most of the burden of water collection for their households.

Research indicates that salinity levels in many coastal water sources exceed national standards, while some tube wells and ponds contain harmful metal elements that pose health risks.

The shortage of safe water not only disrupts daily life but also increases health risks for local communities.

A study on water conditions in south-western coastal Bangladesh found that residents face shortages of safe drinking water for an average of four to six months each year, with some areas experiencing crises lasting more than seven months. The study also showed that only 16 percent of families have their own water source, forcing most households to rely on external supplies.

Women suffer disproportionately from the coastal water crisis, as traditional social roles mean they are responsible for collecting water in nearly 80 percent of households. Fetching water from distant locations causes physical strain, consumes valuable time, and exposes them to health risks.

Purnima Rani Dey from Budhhata Union in Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira endured similar hardships. Living alone after her two daughters got married, she had to walk nearly two kilometres each day to collect water. Even while ill, she often had no choice but to drink unsafe pond water, leading to repeated waterborne diseases.

Her situation improved after a rainwater harvesting tank was installed at her home. She no longer has to travel long distances for safe water, reducing both health risks and the time spent collecting it. With more time available, she has also started growing vegetables in her yard, meeting household needs while earning additional income.

Purnima said that earlier she frequently became sicker after drinking pond water during illness, but having safe water at home has removed a major hardship from her life.

A coordinated initiative has played a major role in improving access to safe water and livelihoods in Bangladesh’s coastal regions.

Under the programme, hundreds of community-based rainwater harvesting systems have been installed, while more than a thousand women have been organised into livelihood groups. These groups regularly meet to discuss market analysis, financial planning, production methods, and disaster preparedness.

The project has also introduced several climate-resilient livelihood practices, including homestead vegetable farming, hydroponic agriculture, crab and sesame farming, nursery development, fish and crab feed production, and aquageoponic farming that combines fish and vegetable cultivation. Hydroponic farming has proven especially effective in saline-prone coastal areas because it does not require soil and can be adapted easily during adverse weather conditions.

Experts say access to safe water in coastal Bangladesh is closely linked to women’s health, as studies show higher reproductive health problems among women who must travel long distances to collect water. Ensuring safe water not only reduces hardship but also improves health, nutrition, economic stability, and women’s empowerment.

Water and climate expert Ainun Nishat stressed the urgent need for ecosystem-based water management, climate justice, and evidence-based policies in coastal Bangladesh.

He called for rapid repair of embankments, protection of water sources, and coordinated action to help vulnerable communities cope with climate impacts.

The coastal development initiative has also gained international recognition. In 2025, the project was named among the world’s 20 most innovative initiatives at a global climate conference, demonstrating how effective local solutions can achieve global significance.

The experiences of coastal women show that proper planning, technology, and women-focused initiatives can successfully help communities adapt to climate change.