Salinization: A Social Ecological Issue in the Bengal Delta Rahman, Mofizur; Ahmad, Sate; Alam, Shajratul; Nahian, Mahin Al icddr,b Water and Health

SALINIZATION “is the accumulation of salts in soil and water.”

CAUSES OF SALINIZATION Salt Water Intrusion Increased Storm Surge Inundation Shallow Coastal Flooding Land Subsidence Reduced Freshwater Flow Temperature Rise Reduced Rainfall Sea Level Rise Upstream Water Diversion Dam Building Increased Evaporation Coastal Embankment Poor Polder Management Increase Shrimp Farming

CONSEQUENCES OF SALINIZATION Increased Burden on Women Increased Blood Pressure Unemployment Migration Loss of Cultural Heritage Changes in Livelihood Reduced Crop Production Changes in Soil Quality Environmental Refugees Land Use Change High Sodium Intake Increased Infectious Diseases Increased Road Maintenance Cost Changes in Drinking Water Quality Loss of Biodiversity Gender Inequality TIME

SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SALINIZATION

Barisal: Khulna: STUDY AREA Barguna Barisal Bhola Jhalokathi Patuakhali Pirojpur Khulna: Bagerhat Satkhira Khulna

IMPACT OF SALINIZATION ON HEALTH

Inconsistencies between Actual vs Perceived Salinity in Groundwater MEASURED VS PERCEIVED SALINITY Inconsistencies between Actual vs Perceived Salinity in Groundwater Actual GW Salinity Perceived GW Salinity no problem/good moderate bad total below upper taste/odor threshold (<1000 mg/L) 54.19* 23.01* 22.8* 100 moderately saline (1000-2500 mg/L) 49.01 34.92* 16.07* highly saline (>=2500 mg/L) 12.27* 27.57 60.16* n= 3,449 46.48 27.52 26.01 Pearson chi2(4) = 458.4005 Pr < 0.001

Probable reasons for inconsistencies GOOD but reported BAD -> MEASURED VS PERCEIVED SALINITY Probable reasons for inconsistencies GOOD but reported BAD -> - other water parameters such as iron . - expectation of donation in terms of cash/ kind. 2) BAD but reported GOOD (in terms of salinity) -> adaptation to the taste of salt? - anecdotal references

ADAPTATION TO SALINIZATION Rain Water Harvesting Solar Based Desalinization Community Based Pond Ground Water Governance IWRM Salinity Resistance Crops Managed Aquifer Recharge

ADAPTATION: RAIN WATER HARVESTING

CONCLUSION Salinization is one of the largest, slow, invisible threat to the delta It has a large impact on health and wellbeing Hypertension is just a tip of the iceberg There are inconsistencies between Perceived and Measured Salinity There is no SINGLE solution Solution need to be tailor made