Changla Mro and other women of the Mro ethnic group used to have to trek for hours through dangerous terrain to collect water, facing threats from snakes, wild pigs, and fishing cats. However, since a water collection and treatment system was installed in their village a year ago, serving about 21 families in Bandarban district, these dangers have become a thing of the past. Changla Mro explained that two women were bitten by snakes while collecting water at night before the system was in place, but now they no longer fear such attacks. The increasing demands on the world's limited fresh water supply due to factors like deforestation, climate change, and population growth are a global concern. The focus is on developing new techniques to capture and preserve water in order to maintain consistent supplies year-round. In Bandarban, women collect water from the local water treatment facility. Water scarcity is a major issue in the Hill Tract area of Bangladesh due to deforestation, resulting in decreased water retention in the soil and shortages during the dry season, particularly affecting the Mro community in Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrhachharhi districts. Kangchag Mro, 50, used to spend hours searching for water in springs and streams, fearing waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. Now, clean drinking water flows from taps at the community's water treatment plant, a small concrete building topped with corrugated iron. She explained that collecting water in the hilly area was difficult, but the water plant has made their job easier. The water plant is supplied by a hillside reservoir located 500 meters away, funded by the Arannayk Foundation, a joint forest conservation initiative of the Bangladesh and US governments. The artificial reservoir gathers water from the hills, which is then transported through a pipeline to a treatment plant where it is purified for household purposes. The efficiency of the gravity flow water system, which eliminates the need for costly pumps, has led to discussions about expanding its implementation. Md Wali Ullah, the chief engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, mentioned that the government is exploring the possibility of providing water to additional indigenous communities in the Hill Tract region. Ullah also shared that his department has submitted a proposal to other relevant government departments. In Bandarban, there is a stream running. According to Thomson Reuters Foundation, Mro leader Khamchang Mro has emphasized the significance of forests in collecting rainfall during the monsoon season and gradually releasing it into streams and rivers. The community has been working on conserving forested areas to maintain a steady water supply to springs and canals throughout the year. Khamchang Mro mentioned that they have reforested degraded areas of their village forests, resulting in the forest now being in a healthier condition. Farid Ahmed Khan, who serves as the executive director of Arannayk Foundation, emphasized the importance of local communities safeguarding their forests. Khan cautioned that if forests are damaged, it could lead to a significant water shortage. In Bandarban, women collect water from a community water treatment plant, while a stream flows through the area.