3.1 Water Governance and Good Governance for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Management
The group of systems that controls decision-making regarding water management and the delivery of water services is known as water governance. Water governance requires appropriate laws and regulations, effective institutional structures and decision-making processes, access to reliable water-related data and information, public participation in decision making, sound financial management systems, and the use of the best available technologies for water services (Rogers & Hall, 2003). A breakdown in water governance is causing the global water catastrophe. Water mismanagement is frequently characterized by a scattered management strategy that addresses organizational boundaries and sectors, a dearth of public participation mechanisms, and inadequate implementation of water policies, laws, and regulations (Tortajada, 2010). Along with these, there are weak decision-making structures, insufficient water institutions, and competing and conflicting interests among water users. When the demand for water exceeds the supply, there are no open techniques for water distribution that can guarantee equitable and sustainable water development. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) service decisions are related to other development decisions since water, sanitation, and hygiene are components of integrated development. In addition to stakeholders from the water and sanitation sectors, other local government development sectors, including energy, health, transportation, waste management, etc., also have an impact on decision-making and the implementation of WASH services. So, water governance consists of various policies, strategies, and institutions that affect the development and implementation of water services.
Table 1: Good governance for Clean water and sanitation management
Variables
|
|
F
|
%
|
Water and sanitation challenges
|
Yes
|
280
|
93.3%
|
No
|
20
|
6.7%
|
Clean water and proper sanitation are a fundamental right
|
Yes
|
290
|
96.7%
|
No
|
10
|
3.3%
|
Concept of good governance
|
Yes
|
175
|
58.3%
|
No
|
125
|
41.67%
|
Good governance is important for sustainable water and sanitation management
|
Yes
|
195
|
65.0%
|
No
|
105
|
35.0%
|
Sufficient accountability in the management of water and sanitation services
|
Yes
|
190
|
63.3%
|
No
|
110
|
36.7%
|
Opportunities to participate in decision-making processes related to water and sanitation management
|
Yes
|
180
|
60.0%
|
No
|
120
|
40.0%
|
[Source: Field Survey, 2022]
According to Table 1, the majority of people consider access to clean water and sanitation to be a basic human right. Additionally, they think that accountable institutions face a number of difficulties in ensuring access to clean water and sanitation. One of them is good governance, which is a major issue. The majority of respondents claimed that because of good governance, they didn't receive enough access to water and sanitary facilities.
Lack of funding and poor infrastructure were also mentioned as significant barriers to providing clean water and sanitation, in addition to effective governance. Numerous respondents lamented the slow rate of change in resolving these problems. According to some, the demand for better water and sanitation services may rise as a result of increased public awareness and education. Others demanded tougher laws and rules from the government to guarantee that everyone has access to these necessities. Despite the difficulties, many people are still optimistic that it is possible to provide everyone with access to clean water and sanitary facilities with continued efforts and investments. To achieve sustainable water goals, effective governance is necessary. We'll highlight some important connections between good governance and access to clean water and sanitary facilities.
- Liability for decisions and actions relating to water and sanitation is ensured by good governance.
- It guarantees the involvement of regional participants. People can do this to voice their opinions on clean water and sanitation.
- It makes sure that its work is transparent. Projects involving water and sanitation can be finished very quickly.
- Additionally, it ensures social justice for all citizens, enabling everyone to have access to clean water and sanitary facilities.
Based on Figure 3, we can say that promote accountability and transparency in decision-making processes to improve water resource management's effectiveness and equity while reducing corruption. Encourage sustainable water use behaviors and make investments in water infrastructure as additional ways to ensure that future generations will have access to clean, safe water. It is imperative to prioritize the safeguarding and preservation of our water resources for the benefit of both the public and the environment.
With the aid of effective water governance, all stakeholders, including marginalized communities, can have equitable access to water resources. This can improve social justice and reduce water-related disputes. Effective water governance can provide equitable access to water resources for all stakeholders, including marginalized communities. This can improve social justice and reduce water-related disputes. Effective management of water resources can also mitigate some of the negative effects of climate change, such as more frequent and severe floods and droughts. Furthermore, by protecting our water resources, we can maintain healthy ecosystems that promote biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services like clean air and water, food production, and recreational opportunities. By giving the preservation and protection of our water resources top priority, we can ensure a sustainable future for both present and future generations. Good water governance can promote sustainable economic development by ensuring dependable and sufficient water supplies for agriculture, industry, and other economic activities.
3.2 Responsible Institutions for Ensuring Clean Water and Sanitation
Table 5 shows that the majority of urban residents are dissatisfied with the accessibility of drinking water. They were also unhappy with the city government's sanitary services. They also think that the quality of their drinking water is good. But they believe that the responsible institutions failed to effectively fulfill their responsibility for ensuring clean water and sanitary conditions. The majority of people are not happy with how responsible institutions are managing the water supply and sanitization. Many people are unhappy with how responsible institutions are handling the task of ensuring clean water and sanitation, despite the fact that they believe the quality of their drinking water to be good. These people believe that the government hasn't managed the water supply and sanitation well. As a result, citizens are becoming more worried about the quality and safety of their drinking water. Many are requesting that those in charge of managing these resources show themselves to be more accountable and transparent.
Table 2: Responsible institutions for water and sanitation management
Variables
|
|
f
|
%
|
Quality of water and sanitation services
|
Excellent
|
40
|
13.3%
|
Good
|
120
|
40.0%
|
Fair
|
110
|
36.7%
|
Poor
|
30
|
10.0%
|
Satisfied with the availability of clean and safe drinking water
|
Very Satisfied
|
10
|
3.333%
|
Satisfied
|
120
|
40.0%
|
Dissatisfied
|
140
|
46.6%
|
Very Dissatisfied
|
30
|
10.0%
|
Satisfied with the sanitation facilities
|
Very Satisfied
|
5
|
1.66%
|
Satisfied
|
164
|
54.66%
|
Dissatisfied
|
101
|
33.66%
|
Very Dissatisfied
|
30
|
10.0%
|
Satisfied with the performance of responsible institutions in terms of water and sanitation management
|
Very Satisfied
|
3
|
1.0%
|
Satisfied
|
98
|
32.6%
|
Dissatisfied
|
170
|
56.6%
|
Very Dissatisfied
|
29
|
9.66%
|
Responsible institutions play a crucial role in ensuring effective water governance and sanitation management
|
Yes
|
250
|
83.3%
|
No
|
50
|
16.7%
|
[Source: Field Survey, 2022]
In this aspect, we will justify the existing responsible institution’s framework in urban Bangladesh. At the national level, the local government division (LGD) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives is in charge of promoting the water supply and sanitation sectors. They are responsible for formulating, supervising, and implementing policies and plans on water supply and sanitation (Chowdhury, 2010; Das Gupta et al., 2005). They also play a significant role in providing technical assistance to local government bodies and providing oversight to ensure that they are able to implement effective and efficient water supply and sanitation services. In Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and other significant urban centers, water supply and sewerage agencies are working to ensure clean water and sanitation. Other urban areas entrust the maintenance of the water supply to city corporations or municipalities, which are also permitted to impose fees to cover the costs of operation and maintenance. The Department of Public Health Engineering also works in conjunction with non-governmental organizations to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation facilities in rural areas. The union of water supply and sanitation committees, which is made up of representatives from the Department of Public Health Engineering and local leaders, is in charge of promoting environmental sanitation, educating citizens about standards of hygiene, and approving the development plan for tube wells. In response to these governmental bodies, the corporate sector and non-governmental organizations also contribute to water services. Additionally, the corporate sector may provide technical and financial assistance to both rural and urban areas, while non-governmental organizations focus on the improvement of water services for disadvantaged communities. We can conclude that the Department of Public Health Engineering, together with the government agencies, city corporations, and municipalities, as well as non-governmental organizations and local leaders from various communities, are all playing an important role in providing equitable access to safe water and sanitation facilities throughout Bangladesh.
The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) is the top national organization in charge of formulating water policy, including cooperation among agencies, and is tasked with advising the Cabinet on matters related to water policy. The NWRC organizes national water resource management initiatives (Das Gupta et al., 2005). In order to promote effective water policy, the NWRC also fosters cooperation between state and local agencies. This cooperation between agencies allows for a more cohesive approach to water management and policy, which can ultimately benefit the public.
A department of the People's Republic of Bangladesh's government is the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). MoWR is the executive authority in charge of developing and managing the water sector. This includes increasing the amount of irrigated land, conserving water, using surface and groundwater, and managing rivers (Gain et al., 2017). The task of creating a framework for institutional reforms to direct water-related operations has been given to MoWR. In order to ensure an efficient use of the country’s water resources, the Ministry of Water Resources focuses on developing and utilizing multiple sources of water. These include both surface and groundwater, rainwater harvesting, desalination of water from brackish sources, and recharging groundwater through various artificial means. The Ministry of Water Resources has implemented several measures to ensure an effective utilization of the available water resources. These measures include the conservation and management of water resources through effective regulatory and institutional mechanisms, the development of strategies for reducing non-revenue water losses, the implementation of policies to reduce wastage and encourage efficient use of available water resources, and active public promotion.
The Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) is a government trustee located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. IWM conducts research, planning, and technology transfer relating to water management initiatives in Bangladesh. The Environment and GIS II Project (EGIS) offers technical assistance and material support to WARPO in the development of the National Water Resources Database and in building up WARPO's environmental capacity, as well as other NMWP consulting firms (Zaman et al., 2009).
The Bangladesh Water Development Board, a government organization with offices in Dhaka, is in charge of managing both surface water and groundwater in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is in charge of organizing and carrying out water projects around the nation, including those related to erosion control, town and coastal protection, irrigation, drainage, and flood management (Shaibur et al., 2017; Pal et al., 2011). The board's duties include building water management structures, dredging and re-excavating channels, working on land reclamation projects, training rivers to prevent erosion, building and maintaining coastal embankments, and collecting rainfall. Additionally, it is in charge of hydrological surveys and investigations, research, development, and training of water user groups and other stakeholder organizations, as well as forecasting floods and droughts. The BWDB also works to provide the rural population with clean drinking water and develop irrigation schemes to improve agricultural productivity. The BWDB is thus a vital part of Bangladesh’s infrastructure, and its primary role is to develop and maintain water resources in order to provide the country with essential services such as hydropower, transportation, flood control, and drinking water supply.
The Water Resources Planning Organization, an independent national organization with headquarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is in charge of carrying out water resource planning in that country.[1] The Ministry of Water Resources' WARPO is the top planning and coordinating body for multidisciplinary experts from various water usage sectors (Chowdhury, 2010). To develop the National Water Resources Database and strengthen WARPO's environmental capabilities, Bangladesh’s river systems, geographic information systems, environment, and groundwater modeling are studied, and the Environment and GIS II Project (EGIS) offers technical assistance and material support to WARPO. Other NMWP consulting firms also do the same.
The planning and management of energy, water supply, sanitation, and health improvement fall under the purview of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). It places a significant emphasis on neighborhood involvement through membership in sub-district coordination committees (Fujita, 2011). Furthermore, establishing, administering, and preserving regional infrastructure for trade, transportation, and small-scale water resources while ensuring LGI and community involvement and attending to social and environmental issues.[2] The LGED oversees the development of local infrastructure in order to make sure that citizens have access to necessary services such as energy, water supply, sanitation, and health. By promoting neighborhood involvement, the LGED also helps to build strong community ties and encourages citizens to take part in the decision-making process.
The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) is in charge of developing waterworks, planning for rural water supply and sanitation, urban water supply, and dealing with issues related to arsenic contamination. The DPHE is thus responsible for a number of vital functions that protect the health and happiness of people across Bangladesh. As such, the DPHE is a critical component in ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. It plays a vital role in preventing water-borne diseases, providing clean drinking water for people in rural and urban areas, and making sure that resources are allocated equitably (Hoque, 2009). In addition, the DPHE is responsible for educating and creating awareness about water-related issues such as arsenic contamination, proper sanitation practices, and other health-related issues. The DPHE also works to ensure that all people, regardless of their socio-economic background or location, have access to quality health services and can benefit from improved health outcomes. This is incredibly important, as access to safe drinking water and sanitation services have a direct impact on people’s health and well-being. Overall, the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) plays a crucial role in Bangladesh by managing and monitoring the country’s water supply systems.
The Department of Environment, a government agency with jurisdiction over environmental protection in Bangladesh, is situated in the capital city of Dhaka.[3] A director general oversees the department. It is managed by the Ministry of Forests and Environment.[4] In 1973, the Bangladeshi government passed the Water Pollution Control Ordinance and established the Department of Public Health Engineering. With 26 members, the Environment Pollution Control Cell was established in 1977. The Environment Pollution Control Cell and the Department of Public Health Engineering were combined to form the Department of Environment by the Bangladeshi government in 1989. The department controls pollution and has the authority to sanction polluting businesses. For operations, factories and industries require regulatory authorization from the Department. In this aspect, the Department of Environment is responsible for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the environment in Bangladesh. It is also responsible for formulating and implementing national policies and programs to control pollution, conserve natural resources, increase public awareness about environmental protection, and assist the government in monitoring compliance with relevant environmental laws (Environmental Governance in Bangladesh).
Where government institutions are unable to deliver goods and services, the efforts by non-government organizations (NGOs) have been very successful, e.g., microcredit, non-formal education, and primary healthcare. However, the rapid expansion of NGOs has attracted criticism, mainly because of the lack of a regulatory system to control their functions. In addition, there is increasing concern regarding the clarity of NGO activities and their accountability. Relationships between governmental institutions and NGOs are weak. Additionally, the private sector remains a highly diverse community of generally very small businesses working largely independently of each other and providing simple, somewhat technically inefficient, and low-quality products. Although the government of Bangladesh is willing to denationalize the water supply sector, private investment is close to non-existent. The water-related private sector is a provider of goods and services to public sector water-related activities but is neither a direct investor nor a manager of such activities. In light of these conditions, the government must create more equitable relationships between itself and NGOs while also creating incentives for private sector investment in water-related activities. To do so, the government needs to create a business environment that supports the private sector in achieving its goals of providing clean water and sanitation services. Furthermore, the government should consider developing public-private partnerships to incentivize private investment in the water sector.
[1] WARPO. warpo.gov.bd. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
[2] https://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/. Retrieved 27 November 2022
[3] Department of Environment. doe.gov.bd. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
[4] Close tanneries at Hazaribagh. The Daily Star. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2022.