The overall objective of the study is to understand the role of groundwater in agriculture/aquaculture, its management and interactions between surface water and the varying groundwater uses in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the study are to:

• Understand groundwater irrigation in Bangladesh including policies and institutional context.
• State of the resources (surface and groundwater) in terms of quantity and quality in the Coastal Zone
• Assess  and uses of groundwater (for agriculture and aquaculture) in the Coastal Zone
• Realize the management of the groundwater access.

 

Although there is a declining trend of groundwater levels, it fluctuates within 2-4m from the groundwater surface round the year in the coastal area. It remained near to the ground surface (within 2.0m) in the months of August-September,  since both shallow and deep aquifers normally saturated  in the rainy season. Groundwater can be  extracted from aquifers at varying depths. Availability of groundwater from aquifers varied with varying depths and locations. For agriculture/aquaculture or household uses, groundwater is extracted from 10-20m and 50-100m in AAS villages of Satkhira and Khulna district, respectively. In case of drinking purpose, groundwater is extracted from 50-100m Satkira and 100-200m in Khulna district.