Femnet e.V.

Our work in production countries -

Clean drinking water for textile communities in Bangladesh

Toxic chemicals from the textile industry endanger the health of entire communities in Bangladesh. With wells, filter systems and community-based monitoring, we create access to clean drinking water together with local partners – and empower local people in their commitment to long-term change.

Toxic chemicals from the textile industry threaten not only rivers, soils and animals in Bangladesh, but also the health and livelihoods of entire communities. In the textile hubs around Dhaka, many people live right next to factories, contaminated sewers and water bodies. Many of them work in the textile industry themselves (around 75%) and are thus doubly exposed to harmful substances: at work and at home.

One Current report ESDO and HEJSupport confirm what affected communities have been experiencing for years: Water, soil and wastewater in several industrial areas are contaminated with hazardous chemicals. Among other things, PFAS, chlorinated paraffins, hormonally active chemicals, heavy metals and other problematic substances from textile production were proven.

Individual results are particularly alarming: In the samples examined, certain PFAS values were many times higher than international drinking water guidelines. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins, which are long-lived and toxic, have also been found in alarming concentrations. Lead above Bangladesh's agricultural safety value was also detected in soil samples. In the case of hair analyses of residents, several mercury values were above the recommended safety value.

This burden has immediate consequences for the people on the ground. They report rashes, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal complaints, headaches, eye irritation and chronic fatigue. Farm animals such as cows, goats and chickens also fall ill if they drink contaminated water or eat polluted plants. This is particularly dramatic for families, who depend on animal husbandry and food crops for low wages and unsafe work.

Clean drinking water is urgently needed: Together with our partners ESDO, AGROHO, Drip by Drip e.V., FEMNET starts where help is needed immediately. Wells and filter systems will be installed so that affected families can reliably obtain clean drinking water.

At the same time, our approach remains long-term: Through community-based monitoring in the course of our Multi-actor partnership document the local people's environmental pressures, health problems and changes in their environment. The collected data creates a basis for making demands on authorities, factories and international companies. This is because the responsibility must not lie with those affected – it lies with the polluters and the global supply chains that benefit from it.