The Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation (SASMIT) project was a collaborative initiative aimed at providing safe drinking water to arsenic-affected rural communities in Bangladesh. Led by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, the project partnered with the NGO Forum for Public Health (Bangladesh), the University of Dhaka, and Ramböll Sweden AB. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the project operated from 2008 to 2013.

SASMIT focused on developing sustainable, community-driven solutions to mitigate arsenic contamination in groundwater. 

• Targeting Safe Aquifers: Identifying arsenic-safe groundwater sources for the installation of community hand-operated tubewells. 

• Sediment Color Tool: Developing a tool based on sediment color to help local drillers identify safe aquifers, enhancing the success rate of safe tubewell installations.

• Intermediate Deep Tubewells (IDTWs): Introducing cost-effective tubewells reaching depths of approximately 120 meters to access arsenic-safe and low-manganese water, offering a more affordable alternative to deeper wells.

• Capacity Building: Training local drillers to recognize safe aquifers and involve them in decision-making processes, thereby promoting sustainable practices and community ownership.

• Social Mapping and GIS: Utilizing social mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to optimize the placement of new wells, ensuring equitable access to safe water for a greater number of beneficiaries.

• Develop a sustainable option for safe drinking water for rural and disadvantaged communities, targeting safe aquifers for the installation of community hand tubewells.

Exchange experiences concerning the feasibility of mitigation options. Increase global awareness of the problems associated with high groundwater of geogenic origin.

 

Impact

The SASMIT project achieved significant milestones

• Installation of Safe Wells: Approximately 300 new tubewells were installed, providing safe drinking water to over 24,000 people in arsenic-affected areas.

• Empowerment of Local Drillers: By enhancing the skills and knowledge of local drillers, the project fostered entrepreneurship and improved the sustainability of safe water access .

• Policy Influence: The project's methodologies and findings contributed to national discussions on water safety and arsenic mitigation strategies, aligning with the Bangladesh Water Act (2013) 

SASMIT's integrated approach, combining scientific research with community engagement, has provided a replicable model for arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh and similar contexts. By focusing on sustainable practices and local capacity building, the project has made a lasting impact on public health and safe water access.