2020 - today Connection of wells to pipelines

In the coming months, further deep wells will be constructed in the Sirajganj district:

• Upazilla Gate in Ullapara and Lahiri Mohonpure will be equipped with pumps, high-level tank and piping to replace the existing, now defective SIDKO filters.
• In Purnimagati, a government-owned well will be equipped with pipelines to supply a market.

In Korgaon in the Habiganj district, a school is supplied with a deep well. So far, the pupils have been drinking water containing 300 µg/l arsenic (WHO recommendation 10 µg/l).

2020 - today Foundation of a drilling company for the drilling of pipe wells

In Bangladesh, wells are usually drilled by hand using conventional methods. The drilling companies usually have only inferior equipment and poorly trained personnel. According to the University of Heidelberg, the drilling companies also do not have the necessary local knowledge of arsenic contamination. Often, only shallow wells are drilled in heavily contaminated areas of the aquifer for cost reasons. However, when deeper drilling is carried out, improper well construction often leads to the contaminant being carried to greater depths.

In 2020, AGAPE e.V. purchased a drilling rig that can be used for mechanical drilling. The staff is given permanent jobs and is financed by private and government contracts. The staff is trained by AGAPE e.V. in cooperation with the University of Heidelberg on the underground construction and professional development of wells.

2015 - today Construction, operation and monitoring of deep wells in Pabna/Sirajganj

Since 2015, AGAPE has been trying to supply the population in Bangladesh with clean, arsenic-free drinking water at central locations. In the meantime, 6 deep wells have been constructed. Another 4 deep wells are planned for 2020:

• 2020: In Korgaon (Sylhet) at a school (planned)
• 2020: At the market places in Ullapara, Purnimagati and Lahiri Mohonpure (planned)
• 2019: In Goaljani at the market place
• 2016: At the market place Boalia Bazaar
• 2016: At the AGAPE school in Bera-Bathiakara
• 2015: At the train station in Sholop
• 2015: At the AGAPE hospital in Ullapara
• 2011: At the AGAPE school in Goaljani

The construction of wells is done with the simplest methods: several young men use water pressure to flush the borehole for the later well pipe. Depending on the location, between 150 and 300m deep drilling is carried out. The well is then equipped with an electric pump, a storage tank and water taps.

Several people can draw water from a deep well at the same time. Washing hands is also easier (in contrast to the usual hand pumps). The quality of the water is checked regularly. Water samples are taken on site at annual intervals and tested for chemical quality at the university in Heidelberg.

2015 - today: well sampling for arsenic in Pabna, Sirajganj and Habiganj

Since 2015, AGAPE e.V. - partly with the support of the University of Heidelberg - has had wells of schools and their surroundings sampled. In this way, wells can be identified that are low in arsenic and can be used by the students. If there are no suitable wells, AGAPE e.V. will take care of providing a filter system or a deep well.

The deep wells and water filters installed by AGAPE e.V. are also regularly tested for arsenic-free water. Sampling campaigns carried out so far:

• 2019: Monthly, later quarterly sampling of test household filter in Habiganj
• 2019: Monitoring and sampling of existing water filters in Habiganj
• 2018/2019: Monitoring of seasonal fluctuations in drinking water quality in Habiganj
• 2018: Sampling of school wells in Habiganj
• 2018: Monitoring of all deep wells and other possible locations (schools and markets) in Sirajganj and Pabna
• 2018: Habiganj (in a study by the Institute for Global Health of the University of Heidelberg)
• 2017: Monitoring of all deep wells and other possible locations (schools and markets) in Sirajganj and Pabna
• 2016: Water investigation of the deep wells and surrounding areas in Bera and Boalia (Sirajgaj and Pabna)
• 2015: Water investigation of the deep wells and surrounding areas in Ulllapara and Sholop (Sirajgaj and Pabna)