14. Sustainable Development Goals and Safe Water: Evidence from Coastal Zones of Bangladesh

Bangladesh experiences water insecurities caused by climate change, the associated impacts on local communities, and the limitations of the coping strategies. The impacts of climate change on the availability of potable water in local communities are substantial. Frequent climate hazards include cyclones, tidal surges, riverbank erosion, and saltwater intrusion (Begum & Momen, 2021). Yet, the health and well-being implications of water insecurity caused by climate change are complex. Water is an essential resource for human survival, as it is used for a variety of purposes. Highlighting the sources of water, GOB (2013) through Bangladesh Water Act 2013 Chapter 2, Section 14 notes that- the term "water resources" refers to all surface water, subterranean water, and precipitation, i.e. water in the atmosphere, as well as water from estuaries, aquifers, flood-plains, wetlands, water sources, foreshores, and other similar reservoirs or places. Jahan, Howlader, Sultana, Ishaq, Sikder and Rahman, (2015) note that the dilemma of safe drinking water, which affects more than 20 million people in Bangladesh, and population growth further complicates the situation. Moreover, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) is most concerned about groundwater depletion, as water levels decline precipitously because of excessive extraction to meet the country's expanding requirements. Government efforts to encourage the usage of surface water by residents fall well short of their objective. The government has a plan to resolve water security. For the secure management of water, the GoB has created numerous legally binding instruments, including the National Water Policy, 1999, and the National Water Supply and Sanitation Act 2014 (Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Local Government Division, 2014).