Water crisis cripples port city  

The dwellers of different areas of Chittagong city face an acute shortage of water as the supply of the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) has come down below half the total demand.
The crisis has deepened due to the ongoing summer season, said CWASA sources. Due to the ongoing heat wave, there is a demand for extra water in the city; however, the CWASA is unable to meet the normal demand of the residents.
The CWASA has been failing to meet the water demand since its inception in 1963.  However, the CWASA blames fall in the underground water level for decrease in the supply of water.
Every year, they give the hope to the city dwellers that in the next year the crisis of the water will be solved but the problem is yet to be solved.
Moreover, the demand for water goes higher day by day.  In many areas of the city, the residents get water for two days a week and in some areas for a day in a week. The dwellers of Halishahar, Kowtali, Lalkhan Bazar, Monsurbad and Phartali areas alleged that they get water once or twice a week.
The residents of Bakalia, Dewan Bazar, Chawakbazar, Kapasghola, Bahadarhat, Badurtala, Chwakbazar, Anderkilla, Jamal Khan, Love Lane, Enayetbazar, Muradpur, Hamzarbag, Nasirabad, GEC, Madarbari,  and Polytechnic areas also made the same complaints.
When contacted, Jane Alam Bhuiyan, chief engineer of CWASA, told The Independent “The demand for water has increased due to heat waves. On the other hand, supply of water has decreased due to fall in groundwater level.” “We are supplying water in some areas on rationing basis, so the residents of some areas do not get water every day,” added Jane Alam.
Currently, CWASA can supply just around 200-180 MLS (Million Litres) of water per day against its demand of 500 to 550 MLS. Yesterday (Tuesday) its supply came down to only 175 MLS against demand of 500 to 550 MLS.
Of the total supply of water, about 45 percent comes from the surface sources while 55 percent of water comes from ground sources, said CWASA sources.
The CWASA everyday collects around 100 to 110 MLS of water by 92 deep tube -wells every day.
The collection of water has dropped by 70-80 MLS due to the fall in underground water level from 100-200 feet in the last five years, said CWASA sources.
The CWASA also collects 90 MLS surface water coming from Mohora Water Treatment Plant. Once water was found in 50-60 feet underground but the water level in 300-400 feet has dropped now.
So the CWASA blames the reason for decreasing the water supply as the underground water level has dropped.
Jannatul Ferdous, a resident of Halishahar area, told The Independent, “The supply of water for a day in a week is quite inadequate for the daily use. In the dry season, we need water all time, but sometimes we do not get water for two weeks.”   Shahidul Islam, a resident of Kowtali area, came up with the same allegation.
AKM Fazullah, managing director of CWASA, said production of water has decreased; on the contrary, the use of water and demand for water have increased. So the residents are in the grip of crisis.

However, he hopped the crisis of water will be solved within this year when the ongoing Karnaphuli Water Supply Project (KWSP) will be completed.

The deadline for completion of KWASP has been fixed as December, 2015 for the third time.

With the completion of the project 143 MLS water is supposed to be added to the supply of CWASA.

 

Water crisis cripples port city

The dwellers of different areas of Chittagong city face an acute shortage of water as the supply of the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) has come down below half the total demand. The crisis has deepened due to the ongoing summer season, said CWASA sources. Due to the ongoing heat wave, there is a demand for extra water in the city; however, the CWASA is unable to meet the normal demand of the residents. The CWASA has been failing to meet the water demand since its inception in 1963. However, the CWASA blames fall in the underground water level for decrease in the supply of water. Every year, they give the hope to the city dwellers that in the next year the crisis of the water will be solved but the problem is yet to be solved. Moreover, the demand for water goes higher day by day. In many areas of the city, the residents get water for two days a week and in some areas for a day in a week. The dwellers of Halishahar, Kowtali, Lalkhan Bazar, Monsurbad and Phartali areas alleged that they get water once or twice a week. The residents of Bakalia, Dewan Bazar, Chawakbazar, Kapasghola, Bahadarhat, Badurtala, Chwakbazar, Anderkilla, Jamal Khan, Love Lane, Enayetbazar, Muradpur, Hamzarbag, Nasirabad, GEC, Madarbari, and Polytechnic areas also made the same complaints. When contacted, Jane Alam Bhuiyan, chief engineer of CWASA, told The Independent The demand for water has increased due to heat waves. On the other hand, supply of water has decreased due to fall in groundwater level. We are supplying water in some areas on rationing basis, so the residents of some areas do not get water every day, added Jane Alam. Currently, CWASA can supply just around 200-180 MLS (Million Litres) of water per day against its demand of 500 to 550 MLS. Yesterday (Tuesday) its supply came down to only 175 MLS against demand of 500 to 550 MLS. Of the total supply of water, about 45 percent comes from the surface sources while 55 percent of water comes from ground sources, said CWASA sources. The CWASA everyday collects around 100 to 110 MLS of water by 92 deep tube -wells every day. The collection of water has dropped by 70-80 MLS due to the fall in underground water level from 100-200 feet in the last five years, said CWASA sources. The CWASA also collects 90 MLS surface water coming from Mohora Water Treatment Plant. Once water was found in 50-60 feet underground but the water level in 300-400 feet has dropped now. So the CWASA blames the reason for decreasing the water supply as the underground water level has dropped. Jannatul Ferdous, a resident of Halishahar area, told The Independent, The supply of water for a day in a week is quite inadequate for the daily use. In the dry season, we need water all time, but sometimes we do not get water for two weeks. Shahidul Islam, a resident of Kowtali area, came up with the same allegation. AKM Fazullah, managing director of CWASA, said production of water has decreased; on the contrary, the use of water and demand for water have increased. So the residents are in the grip of crisis. However, he hopped the crisis of water will be solved within this year when the ongoing Karnaphuli Water Supply Project (KWSP) will be completed. The deadline for completion of KWASP has been fixed as December, 2015 for the third time. With the completion of the project 143 MLS water is supposed to be added to the supply of CWASA.