This study investigates existing water supply\r\nscenario, and evaluates the performance of pond sand filter\r\n(PSF) in meeting drinking water demand of Dacope\r\nUpazila in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Questionnaire\r\nsurvey to the villagers reveals that PSF is the major\r\ndrinking water sources (38 %) of the study area followed\r\nby tubewells (30.4 %), rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems\r\n(12.6 %), ponds (10.3 %) and others (8.7 %). The\r\nspot test and laboratory analysis show that odour, colour,\r\npH, dissolved oxygen, hardness, calcium, magnesium,\r\nnitrate, sulphate and phosphate of the PSFs water meet\r\nBangladesh standard. The efficiency of PSF in reducing\r\ntotal dissolved solids (TDS) (15 %) and potassium (8.2 %)\r\nis not enough to meet the standard of 20 % PSFs for TDS\r\nand one-third PSFs for potassium. The study proves that\r\nPSF is unable to remove coliform bacteria by 100 % from\r\nhighly contaminated water. Hence, disinfection should be\r\nadopted before distribution to ensure safe drinking water.\r\nMajority of the PSF�s users (80 %) are either partially\r\nsatisfied or dissatisfied with the existing system. The beneficiary�s\r\nwillingness to pay for drinking water technologies\r\nseems that the combination of PSF and RWH could\r\nensure sustainable drinking water in coastal region of\r\nBangladesh.
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