Work

Assessing Water Poverty of Livelihood Groups in Peri-Urban Areas around Dhaka under a Changing Environment

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Water poverty, measured by the Water Poverty Index (WPI), is traditionally applied at country and community levels. This study presents a livelihood-inclusive approach for measuring WPI at the livelihood group level. The specific objectives are to evaluate present and future WPIs for different livelihood groups, such as large and small male farmers, female farmers, male and female industrial workers and economically inactive women. Primary data are collected from three peri-urban areas around Dhaka using a mixed approach, including a semi-structured questionnaire survey of 260 respondents. The WPIs are calculated by using a weighted multiplicative function, and the component weights are assigned by principal component analysis. The results show that the economically inactive women are presently the most water-poor group, with a WPI value of 41, whereas the small male farmers would be the most water-poor group in the future, with a WPI value of 34. Environmental changes, such as high temperature, variability in rainfall and surface water, lowering of groundwater level, rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization, are found to be responsible for the dynamism in WPIs for different livelihood groups. The Resource and Environment components should be paid immediate attention in order to protect peri-urban livelihood groups from future water poverty.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w13192674

Authors: Lamiya Sharmeen Jaren, M. Shahjahan Mondal

Institution: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Water Resources and Sustainability

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Clean water and sanitation, Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,160