Drinking water for capital by 2021

70pc to be replaced by surface water

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) will supply 70 per cent of surface water instead of groundwater by 2021 as the ground water level in Dhaka has been declining by three metres every year, experts have said. Besides, about 5,000 shallow tube wells across the country will not be able to extract water due to the declining groundwater level, they have added. The experts have recommended increasing vegetation, linking the beels and canals with rivers by increasing navigability through dredging, and going for surface water to reduce dependency on groundwater. Otherwise, the nation will be pushed into a disastrous situation in the near future, they have warned.

Against this backdrop, Bangladesh will observe World Water Day tomorrow with the theme “Nature for Water”. “Vegetation is very important to protect nature. The water capacity of the wetlands should be increased through dredging. The construction of unplanned rubber dams on the rivers for irrigation purposes is negatively impacting the environment,” Abdus Sobhan, general secretary of Poribesh Bachao Andalan (POBA), told The Independent yesterday.

Natural resources in a riverine country like Bangladesh are now crying for water, said Sobhan, who is also a former additional director general of the Department of Environment. “If we destroy nature, its effect would be disastrous for the country’s economy and social life,” he added. He also said surface water is being polluted indiscriminately. “Groundwater level is declining by around three metres in Dhaka every year. There is need to recharge the groundwater by planting trees and dredging the rivers and canals,” he added.

The dependency on groundwater should be reduced by using surface water, said Prof. Sabbir Mostafa of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

“River waters are being polluted by untreated effluents. Many small factories are also polluting rivers. This water should be made potable by installing combined effluent treatment plants (ETP) for these small factories,” he said.

DWASA is dependent on groundwater as it makes up for 80 per cent of its water supply, said Sabbir Mostafa. “DWASA has taken up some projects to supply surface water instead of groundwater. It is a good sign that the DWASA will supply 70 per cent surface water by 2021,” he added.

The fate of trans-boundary rivers has remained still unchanged as the upper riparian neighbouring country is

unilaterally withdrawing water from 54 international rivers by constructing river-linking projects, the BUET professor said.

“We are conducting some studies to increase the groundwater level. It is true that the groundwater level is declining day by day,” state minister for water resources, Nazrul Islam, told The Independent.

The government has taken up “Delta plan 2021” funded by the Netherlands government, the minister said.

“All aspects like environment, water, pollution, drought and natural calamity have been incorporated in this project.

The main objective of the project is to build an environment-friendly Bangladesh for future generations,” he added.

DWASA has taken up projects to create a sustainable, reliable, and climate-resilient water supply system in the capital under the Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project (DWSNIP), Taqsem A Khan, managing director (MD) of DWASA, said.

“It will enhance the distribution network efficiency gains achieved under two previous DWASA projects financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for improving service delivery and capacity building,” he added.

Khan further said the outcome will ensure more reliable, improved, climate-resilient water supply in Dhaka.

“The project objectives are environment-friendly, sustainable and pro-people. We will supply 70 per cent water from surface water to city dwellers by 2021 and 30 per cent from other means,” he added.

Now 60-70 per cent slum people get water from WASA, but 100 per cent people will be provided water by 2021, he noted.

The authorities are trying to strengthen the distribution network by enhancing the sustainable DMA management capacity and the capacity for quality service delivery, the DWASA MD said.

DWASA has taken an initiative to set up the Padma–Jasholdia water treatment plant to bring water from the Padma river and supply 45 crore litres of water every day to city dwellers, he added.

 

 

Drinking water for capital by 2021

70pc to be replaced by surface water

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) will supply 70 per cent of surface water instead of groundwater by 2021 as the ground water level in Dhaka has been declining by three metres every year, experts have said. Besides, about 5,000 shallow tube wells across the country will not be able to extract water due to the declining groundwater level, they have added. The experts have recommended increasing vegetation, linking the beels and canals with rivers by increasing navigability through dredging, and going for surface water to reduce dependency on groundwater. Otherwise, the nation will be pushed into a disastrous situation in the near future, they have warned. Against this backdrop, Bangladesh will observe World Water Day tomorrow with the theme Nature for Water. Vegetation is very important to protect nature. The water capacity of the wetlands should be increased through dredging. The construction of unplanned rubber dams on the rivers for irrigation purposes is negatively impacting the environment, Abdus Sobhan, general secretary of Poribesh Bachao Andalan (POBA), told The Independent yesterday. Natural resources in a riverine country like Bangladesh are now crying for water, said Sobhan, who is also a former additional director general of the Department of Environment. If we destroy nature, its effect would be disastrous for the countrys economy and social life, he added. He also said surface water is being polluted indiscriminately. Groundwater level is declining by around three metres in Dhaka every year. There is need to recharge the groundwater by planting trees and dredging the rivers and canals, he added. The dependency on groundwater should be reduced by using surface water, said Prof. Sabbir Mostafa of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). River waters are being polluted by untreated effluents. Many small factories are also polluting rivers. This water should be made potable by installing combined effluent treatment plants (ETP) for these small factories, he said. DWASA is dependent on groundwater as it makes up for 80 per cent of its water supply, said Sabbir Mostafa. DWASA has taken up some projects to supply surface water instead of groundwater. It is a good sign that the DWASA will supply 70 per cent surface water by 2021, he added. The fate of trans-boundary rivers has remained still unchanged as the upper riparian neighbouring country is unilaterally withdrawing water from 54 international rivers by constructing river-linking projects, the BUET professor said. We are conducting some studies to increase the groundwater level. It is true that the groundwater level is declining day by day, state minister for water resources, Nazrul Islam, told The Independent. The government has taken up Delta plan 2021 funded by the Netherlands government, the minister said. All aspects like environment, water, pollution, drought and natural calamity have been incorporated in this project. The main objective of the project is to build an environment-friendly Bangladesh for future generations, he added. DWASA has taken up projects to create a sustainable, reliable, and climate-resilient water supply system in the capital under the Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project (DWSNIP), Taqsem A Khan, managing director (MD) of DWASA, said. It will enhance the distribution network efficiency gains achieved under two previous DWASA projects financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for improving service delivery and capacity building, he added. Khan further said the outcome will ensure more reliable, improved, climate-resilient water supply in Dhaka. The project objectives are environment-friendly, sustainable and pro-people. We will supply 70 per cent water from surface water to city dwellers by 2021 and 30 per cent from other means, he added. Now 60-70 per cent slum people get water from WASA, but 100 per cent people will be provided water by 2021, he noted. The authorities are trying to strengthen the distribution network by enhancing the sustainable DMA management capacity and the capacity for quality service delivery, the DWASA MD said. DWASA has taken an initiative to set up the PadmaJasholdia water treatment plant to bring water from the Padma river and supply 45 crore litres of water every day to city dwellers, he added.