Building on its long experience of providing water and sanitation services to communities, DUS started its Water and Sanitation program with the financial and technical support of the Netherland Govt. The program is implementing in Nangolia Char and Nalerchar under Hatiya Upazilla.  Our goal is to provide sustainable and integrated WATSAN services in the rural areas and break the contamination cycle of unsanitary latrines, contaminated water and unsafe hygiene practices, as well as ensure sustainability and scaling-up of WATSAN services. The program aims to ensure access to sanitation services for four thousand six hundred & five household, safe water services with 250 nos. DTW and hygiene education for around 20000 people of the respective area of DUS.

The core of the program is the Tubewell User Group (TUG), made up of 15-20 households – with representation from all stakeholder groups. The TUG meets to assess existing water and sanitation situation of the entire community and identify issues that need urgent action. They select sites for community water sources, collect money and monitor usage and maintenance of latrines. To strengthen the capacity of TUGs, two key members from each group (both are female) is provided leadership training at a DUS facility. Till now approximately 40 nos. female have got there training. About 500 female will be trained by DUS.

Components of the programs are Water & Sanitation with Hygiene. To provide communities with access to safe water, we undertake various activities, including development of a water safety plan, DTW site & user group selection, DTW site finalize and submit DPHE, Contribution money collection, contribution money deposition, installation of deep tube well.

Each and every household of the project area is going to get one latrine. Thus DUS has built 400 nos. latrines and around 4200 latrine will be built in the project period. The sanitary latrine is produced, supplied and installed by DPHE. DUS also raise awareness on sanitation issues, which creates community demand for using sanitary latrines.

We know that installation of water supply and sanitation facilities is not enough to improve people’s health – good hygiene practices are essential. Thus DUS has adopted a number of practical approaches to promote hygiene messages that are based on socio-economic and hydro-geological conditions, culture and existing practices. Cluster meetings, using innovative communication tools, create awareness about the use of safe water, sanitary latrines and good hygiene practices.