“Enhancing Local Capability (Practical design study) for mainstreaming MAR in Coastal Areas of Bangladesh (MAR-CAB)”.

Over the past 10 years research and pilot projects have demonstrated the potential of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) systems in helping to reduce the water supply problems in Bangladesh [1]. Salinization of the soil and groundwater are exacerbated by a climate-change induced sea level rise [2] and higher incidences of cyclonic storm surges. The presence of geogenic arsenic in the groundwater – which is detrimental to human health – adds another problem to drinking water supply. With MAR, freshwater is captured from the plentiful monsoon rains, filtered and stored in the aquifer underground, thereby creating a freshwater reserve that is safe from evaporation, contamination [3] and secured from surface inundations by saline water. With the proposed project we will facilitate taking the MAR technology from the piloting phase to implementation on a larger scale. The DeltaMAR research project resulted in defining parameters for MAR in coastal Bangladesh, with regard to both physical/geohydrological and governance aspects. Using the parameters, it is possible to define zones in the coastal belt where MAR is feasible. However, for direct implementation under BDP2100, practical designs for on-the-ground-implementation are still missing. The ultimate outcome of project are national guidelines for MAR implementation to be adopted by the high level national committee on MAR (HLNC) and the technical committee of MAR (TC). During the previous MAR projects for rural drinking water provision [3] and, more recently, for irrigation agriculture [4] valuable knowledge on the technical design of MAR systems in the context of rural Bangladesh was developed. The aim of this project is to compile the knowledge of improved local MAR system designs gained during the previous research and to develop additional designs for different application fields. These technical designs are based on local available materials, technologies and prevailing circumstances. The materials will be drafted to aid local practitioners in implementing MAR projects. Next to the technical designs, templates for terms of references (TORs) will be developed. Furthermore, a matrix presenting the different MAR system applications in relation to the prevailing physical landscape properties will be created to support site selection.