OBAT has six drinking water projects in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rangpur and Syedpur. Each of these provides clean water for about 2,200-2,500 people. The camps are faced with a serious scarcity of clean drinking water. The City Water Supply Authority usually supplies water during late night when everyone is asleep, making collection of water impossible. Adding to the problem is a dearth of electricity and the ensuing load shedding or prolonged power outages. The supply of water depends on the supply of electricity. Hence, load shedding presents a great problem, preventing people from collecting water when it is needed, for drinking or household chores.
In addition, the water supplied by the authorities is contaminated and not potable. Drinking dirty water leads to several water borne disease, for e.g. cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid and hepatitis etc.
As a result of these projects, the incidence of disease has been reduced and access to clean water is now a reality for the camp people.
