Background to BETV-SAM

The Bangladesh Environmental Technology Verification - Support to Arsenic Mitigation Project (BETV-SAM) was a bilateral development assistance project between the Governments of Bangladesh and Canada. The project's operations in Bangladesh came to an end in December 2009, but BCSIR continues to operate a Verification Unit that can test, verify and certify the performance of arsenic removal technologies.

Organizations wishing to market and sell their arsenic removal technologies in Bangladesh should contact:

The Director, Analytical Research Laboratory,
Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Bangladesh

The goal of the BETV-SAM Project was to address environmental health issues and basic human needs in Bangladesh, by providing drinking water that meets the Bangladesh drinking water standard for arsenic at the point of use for people affected by arsenic-contaminated water.

The purpose of the project was to participate in the provision of arsenic-safe water to people in Bangladesh, through:

• The verification of selected arsenic removal technologies.
• Building capacity in local laboratories and other institutions to carry out key functions associated with verification and monitoring of arsenic removal technologies.
• Carrying out other tasks necessary for the development of a sustainable capacity in Bangladesh to verify and monitor arsenic removal technologies.

Some of the accomplishments of the BETV-SAM Project were as follows:

• The knowledge on how to verify arsenic removal technologies was successfully transferred to a Verification Unit in BCSIR.
• Arsenic Removal technologies that are proven to be safe and effective (using the verification process) can be deployed in arsenic-affected areas of Bangladesh. These technologies are being used in increasing numbers.
• Arsenic removal technologies that did not perform adequately were kept out of Bangladesh.
• BCSIR's Analytical Research Division laboratory received international ISO 17025 certification for the analysis of water quality parameters that are particularly important for the verification and monitoring of arsenic removal technologies.
• The project's Technical Performance Monitoring Program provided a better understanding of the longer term performance of these technologies in "real-world" conditions, as well the best ways to operate and maintain these technologies.
• The Water Safety Plans developed for arsenic removal technologies will help all stakeholders, including villagers, use, maintain and monitor these technologies in a safe and effective manner.
• A sister project involving UNICEF provided important insights regarding the social aspects of arsenic removal technology use.

The project field tested and evaluated the performance of a number of arsenic removal technologies submitted by their proponents. Those that performed in a satisfactory manner were certified for sale in Bangladesh. The technologies that were certified for sale are profiled here. The technologies that were tested but failed to obtain certification are profiled here.

Nelima Technology

(Photo by Peter Fowlie of OCETA)