Targeting arsenic-safe aquifers as socially acceptable innovative method of remediation ?What lessons can rural Latin America learn from Bangladesh experiences?

J. BUNDSCHUH; P. BHATTACHARYA; M. VON BRÖMSSEN; M. JAKARIYA; M.I. LITTER; M.E. GARCÍA

Sylhet, Bangladesh

Conferencia; International Conference and Exhibition on Water and Wastewater Treatment; 2007

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology

Arsenic of geogenic origin contaminates drinking water resources in many parts of the world. This calls for common global approaches and free exchange of information and experiences. In both Bangladesh and Latin America many of the provided mitigation techniques have not been accepted or been applicable in the rural areas. Treatment of arsenic-enrich groundwater must only be seen as one category of mitigation measures and new innovative remediation methodologies that are socially and economical reasonable must still be searched for. Targeting safe aquifers, within the reach of effortless drillings, in regions with high arsenic groundwater is such an option. By linking recognizable geological features to typical groundwater compositions and risk of mobilised As targeting safe aquifers might be possible for local drillers installing wells. In Bangladesh, the installations can be done with limited resources based on the sediment colours, whereas in the case of Argentina a tool based on the identification of areas with low groundwater residence time and combined parameters needs to be developed and proven to identify areas of the shallow aquifers with low As-concentrations.