Biosand Filter in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh (Biosand Filter Project In Bangladesh)
There are lots of drinking water ponds in the coastal area. People cannot drink the water because of turbidity and other bacterial contamination. Bio-sand filter is a viable water treatment technology in households level. The filter was designed by Dr. David Manz in the 1990s and has been widely tested since that time. It is made out of locally available materials. LEDARS introduced this technology in the coastal area since 2007 with support of CAWST and MIT. Since 2015 LEDARS started this project in the southwestern coastal area with support of OHorizons, USA using wood molds. In this project LEDARS is establishing a filter production center and distributes 1000 filters for 1000 families in 2016. This filter treats the surface water for microbiological contamination and, therefore, is used primarily to treat sweet pond water. From 2017, LEDARS started its 2nd phase project, by which LEDARS will install 200,000 BSF in coastal area of Satkhita, Khulna and Bagerhat district. Read More
Wash In Classroom
LEDARS is being implementing a project with Cap Net UNDP with technical support of Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS). There have a lot of WASH related activities in coastal area of Bangladesh. Even, there have a lots of equipment and facilities in school level, but students of the school are not properly using those facilities due to lack of awareness. As pilot basis, LEDARS is working with three primary schools in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira district of Bangladesh. In this project LEDARS introduces two WASH training module for students of 1-3 and 4-5 classes. LEDARS is increasing awareness of all students of 3 primary schools how to use WASH facilities in schools and their families
Upscaling Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for Community Water Supply in Saline prone areas. (MAR Technology for Drinking Water)
LEDARS is implementing the project entitled “Upscaling Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for Community Water Supply in Saline prone areas”. It is a project managed by the Department of Geology, University of Dhaka with support of Ground Water Circle of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE); WASH Section of UNICEF Bangladesh; and Acacia Water of the Netherlands. The prime aim of this project is manually recharge the ground water for providing community water supplies in saline areas of the Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts. NGOs are closely working with Dhaka University to maintain properly of the sites and provide technical information for research purpose. 7 partner NGOs have been working in this three district. The Consortia members of this project is UNICEF Bangladesh, University of Dhaka (DU), Acacia Water (Netherland), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Shushilan, AOSED, Mukti Foundation, Gano Milan Foundation, Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS), LoCOS, and LEDARS. LEDARS is working in Shyamnagar upazila where 10 MAR sits are present.
LEDARS 10 Project Site Locations:
| Sl no | Name of sites | Name of Union of Shyamnagar Unpazila of Satkhira district |
| 01 | Nagbati Govt Primary School | Vurulia |
| 02 | Nagbati Madrassa Nagbati | Vurulia |
| 03 | Habibul Alam Noornagar | Nurnagar |
| 04 | Noornagar Govt Pond | Nurnagar |
| 05 | Ishwaripur A Sobhan High School | Ishwaripur |
| 06 | Gumantoli Senior Fajel Madrassa | Ishwaripur |
| 07 | 33 No Gumantoli Primary School | Ishwaripur |
| 08 | Chandipur Primary School | Shyamnagar |
| 09 | Nakipur Pilot Model School | Shyamnagar |
| 10 | Nakipur Girls high School | Shyamnagar |
Providing support to vulnerable people to remove water scarcity
People of southwest are seriously suffering drinking water scarcity due to salinity and arsenic contamination in surface and ground water. LEDARS is raising awareness of the people and support to install water technology for drinking water. LEDARS is demonstrating and supporting to re-excavation of ponds, installation of Pond-Sand-Filter (PSF), Bio-Sand Filters and Rain Water Harvesting Systems for create access to safe drinking water. LEDARS is also supporting the community to install safe latrines and educating people about good hygiene practices.
Awards in WASH related activities (Water Activities Related Award):
LEDARS wins Water Showcase prize in 7th World Water Forum.
LEDARS Win World Water Showcase Award in 7th World Water Forum, 2015. LEDARS got excellent third prize in the world. For details, please click the link : http://www.ledars.org/achievement-till-dates/
LEDRAS awarded by Kyoto World Water Grand Prize in 4th World Water Forum and Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2006
LEDARS (former Gana Unnayan Sangstha)
presented the success story of local action entitled “CBO turns into development in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh” during the session of “Asian Civil Society Innovate Change” on 19th March 2006 in the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico and has been awarded as top ten semi-finalist of the world.
