In the longer run, part of the answer lies in sinking deeper wells to tap cleaner water. But it will take millions of dollars to install these wells in addition to the needed surface tanks and distribution pipes. Also some deep tubewells in West Bengal have started bringing up arsenic months or years after they were opened. Another idea is to adopt traditional methods such as ponds and tanks to harvest rainwater. While a large number of ideas for filters and chemical treatments have been tried out in the past two years, there is no proven affordable arsenic removal technology available yet, according to Khawaja Minnatullah of the World Bank.
Most experts warn against blanket solutions.
Each village needs its own plan. And none of them can begin planning until it knows which of its tubewells are pouring poison into villagers buckets.