Changla Mro and other women of the Mro ethnic group used to brave dangerous animals like snakes and wild pigs while trekking for hours to collect water. However, since a water collection and treatment system was installed a year ago, serving about 21 families in Bandarban district, these dangers have become a thing of the past. According to Changla Mro, two women were bitten by snakes while collecting water at night before the water plant was installed. Now, they no longer fear such attacks as they can get their water from the plant. The increasing demands on the world's limited fresh water supply due to deforestation, climate change, and population growth are a concern worldwide. The increasing importance of finding new ways to capture and preserve water to ensure a consistent supply throughout the year is becoming a top priority. In Bandarban, women are seen gathering water at the local water treatment plant, as reported by Thomson Reuters Foundation. In the Hill Tract area of Bangladesh, which spans 5,500 square miles and is home to both Bengali-speaking settlers and tribal people from 13 different ethnic groups, water is a scarce resource due to deforestation. The lack of trees has diminished the soil's ability to retain water, resulting in water shortages, especially during the dry season when most surface water evaporates. This issue is particularly severe in the districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrhachharhi, where the Mro community resides. Kangchag Mro, aged 50, used to spend a lot of time searching for water in springs and streams and was worried about getting sick from waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. However, she is now able to access clean drinking water from taps at the community's water treatment plant, a small concrete building with a corrugated iron roof. She mentioned that collecting water in the hilly area used to be difficult, but the water plant has made it much easier. The water plant, funded by the Arannayk Foundation, a collaboration between the governments of Bangladesh and the US, is supplied by a hillside reservoir located 500 meters away. The artificial reservoir gathers water from the hills and transports it through a pipeline to a treatment facility where it is purified for household purposes. The effectiveness of the gravity flow water system, which eliminates the need for costly pumps, has led to discussions about expanding the system. Md Wali Ullah, the chief engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, mentioned that the government is exploring options to provide water to additional indigenous communities in the Hill Tract region. Ullah also noted that his department has submitted a proposal to other relevant government departments. There is a stream flowing in Bandarban, according to Thomson Reuters Foundation. Khamchang Mro, a leader of the Mro community, stated that they have recognized the value of forests in collecting and releasing rainfall to ensure a steady water supply to springs and canals. The community has been working on conserving forested areas, including reforesting degraded parts of their village forests, which has led to improved forest health. Farid Ahmed Khan, who serves as the executive director of Arannayk Foundation, emphasized that local communities must safeguard their forests as they have no other option. Khan cautioned that if forests continue to degrade, it will lead to a serious water crisis. In Bandarban, women collect water from the community water treatment plant, with a stream flowing nearby. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)