Climate Resilience

Understanding how climate change—particularly flooding and water scarcity—affects sanitation systems and pathogen exposure, and developing adaptive strategies.

Key Questions

  • How does flooding affect fecal contamination levels?
  • Which sanitation technologies are most climate-resilient?
  • How can sanitation planning incorporate climate projections?
  • What early warning systems can reduce climate-related disease risks?

Our Approach

PROMISE combines exposure assessment with climate data to understand how seasonal variations and extreme weather events affect pathogen contamination. Research in flood-prone areas documents contamination patterns during and after floods, technology performance under stress, and community coping strategies.

Active Projects

Flood-sanitation interaction studies in Paikgacha, Khulna

  • Seasonal contamination monitoring.
  • Climate-resilient sanitation design guidance development.

In the flood-prone Paikgacha region:

  • Flooding creates massive spikes in environmental contamination
  • Traditional sanitation systems fail during flood events
  • Communities lack access to safe water during critical periods
  • Food contamination increases dramatically during floods

WaterAid Bangladesh will use PROMISE findings to prioritize:

  • Climate-resilient containment systems that withstand flooding
  • Flood-resistant water sources
  • Community-based water treatment for emergency periods
  • Food safety interventions in flood-prone areas

This evidence-based targeting ensures limited resources address highest-risk exposure pathways, maximizing health impact per dollar invested.