Experimenting with a novel technology for provision of safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh: The case of sub-surface arsenic removal (SAR)

摘要: Abstract Subsurface Arsenic Removal (SAR) is a technique used for in-situ removal of naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. This new technology was deployed recently on an experimental basis two sites rural Bangladesh, to address the pressing problem drinking water supplies contaminated by arsenic. article assesses whether and what extent these first field experiments with SAR can be conceptualized as “socio-technical experiments” designed incubate improve radical technological innovations serving ‘living lab”, “window” and/or “agent change”. As per writings transition theory, experiment functions living lab if it permits testing, learning improving upon innovation. It window able facilitate communication conversation raising actors’ interest enrolling actors. agent change successfully stimulate changes potential users' practices behaviours. Through studying experiments, this finds that novel served window, but not (yet) change, partly because integrating social considerations (such community buy-in, appropriate site selection post-installation support) into prototype design during experimentation proved very difficult. A key obstacle technical efficacy remained primary concern experimentation, unsafe make deriving from units available users. The thus abstract idea provided unable behavioural amongst We conclude there need identify conditions under which real world serve agents sustainable uptake safe technologies developing country contexts.