waterlogging in Dhaka

Experts blame shortage of WASA pumping stations

An inadequate number of pumping stations of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is the reason behind waterlogging on the city streets after a sudden downpour, say experts. At present, Dhaka Wasa has three pumping stations in Rampura, Kallyanpur and Gopibagh areas of the capital. Another pumping station, run by the Water Development Board (WDB), is located in the Goran Chatbari area of Dhaka. But the water authorities need at least eight such stations in different parts of the city to tackle the problem of severe waterlogging.

The existing pumping stations fail to drain out even one-third of the water pools caused by the rain. Waterlogging in the capital has now aggravated so much that an hour’s rain is enough to flood a considerable part of the city.

Roads in various places, including Mirpur Kazipara, Shewrapara, Ibrahimpur, Azimpur, Kalabagan, Matuail, Jatrabari, Jurain, Demra, Shanir Akhra, Dania, Shyampur, Motijheel, Rampura, Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, were waterlogged for the better part of Tuesday due to a heavy rain that continued for slightly over two hours.

“Tuesday’s rain again exposed the lack of a proper drainage system in the city,” said Dr Sabbir Mustafa Khan, professor of water resources engineering at BUET.

Dhaka is situated in a low-lying riverine area and hence it should be protected against flooding by embankments. Moreover, pumping stations should be set up to drain out rainwater, he noted.

Dhaka faces an increased flood disaster risk owing to climate change, said Khan.

At least eight medium to large water pumping stations are needed at different strategic points to drain out water after a heavy spell of rain in the city, he also said. “Unfortunately, Dhaka Wasa currently has only three medium-capacity pumping stations,” he added.

Khan, however, said pumping stations alone would not be able to drain out the water unless there was a proper drainage network, water retention area and flood-flow zones.

According to the DAP and the Flood Action Plan, the city should have

conserved 5,523 acres of water retention area, 20,093 acres of canals and rivers, and 74,598 acres of flood-flow zones. But most of them are gone thanks to years of negligence and inaction of various government bodies. As a result, even in case of 50–60 mm of rain a day, Dhaka Wasa pumps fail to drain out the storm water quickly, resulting in the clogging of roads, lanes and by-lanes, said Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, Dhaka Wasa chief engineer.

Chowdhury told The Independent that there were a total of 80 pumps in the three water pumping stations of Dhaka Wasa.

He said the pumping stations started pumping out the accumulated rainwater in the city after a moderate or heavy rain. But water remains stagnant on the city roads if it rains incessantly, he added.

The Wasa engineer said the Wasa pumping system can drain out 45 cubic metres of water per second.

According to officials, rainfall above 40mm in Dhaka would take at least three hours to recede as the available pumping facility is capable of draining only 20mm of rainfall.

The delay in pumping out storm water occurs because of a slow passage of the water to the pumping stations, Chowdhury said, adding that the slow movement was the result of an inadequate capacity of the storm drainage pipelines, severe lack of water retention areas, and canals clogged with solid waste.

For immediate remedy, at least 12 per cent of the total city area should be made available as rainwater retention areas, said Chowdhury. Also, the remaining canals and storm drainage facility must be cleared, and the storm drainage network should be expanded with enhanced capacity, he added.

Admitting that the Wasa needs at least double the number of its current pumping stations, the Wasa chief engineer said: “It’s a large capital investment. The Wasa board has already thought of spending on building new pumping stations,” he added.

waterlogging in Dhaka

Experts blame shortage of WASA pumping stations

An inadequate number of pumping stations of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is the reason behind waterlogging on the city streets after a sudden downpour, say experts. At present, Dhaka Wasa has three pumping stations in Rampura, Kallyanpur and Gopibagh areas of the capital. Another pumping station, run by the Water Development Board (WDB), is located in the Goran Chatbari area of Dhaka. But the water authorities need at least eight such stations in different parts of the city to tackle the problem of severe waterlogging. The existing pumping stations fail to drain out even one-third of the water pools caused by the rain. Waterlogging in the capital has now aggravated so much that an hours rain is enough to flood a considerable part of the city. Roads in various places, including Mirpur Kazipara, Shewrapara, Ibrahimpur, Azimpur, Kalabagan, Matuail, Jatrabari, Jurain, Demra, Shanir Akhra, Dania, Shyampur, Motijheel, Rampura, Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, were waterlogged for the better part of Tuesday due to a heavy rain that continued for slightly over two hours. Tuesdays rain again exposed the lack of a proper drainage system in the city, said Dr Sabbir Mustafa Khan, professor of water resources engineering at BUET. Dhaka is situated in a low-lying riverine area and hence it should be protected against flooding by embankments. Moreover, pumping stations should be set up to drain out rainwater, he noted. Dhaka faces an increased flood disaster risk owing to climate change, said Khan. At least eight medium to large water pumping stations are needed at different strategic points to drain out water after a heavy spell of rain in the city, he also said. Unfortunately, Dhaka Wasa currently has only three medium-capacity pumping stations, he added. Khan, however, said pumping stations alone would not be able to drain out the water unless there was a proper drainage network, water retention area and flood-flow zones. According to the DAP and the Flood Action Plan, the city should have conserved 5,523 acres of water retention area, 20,093 acres of canals and rivers, and 74,598 acres of flood-flow zones. But most of them are gone thanks to years of negligence and inaction of various government bodies. As a result, even in case of 5060 mm of rain a day, Dhaka Wasa pumps fail to drain out the storm water quickly, resulting in the clogging of roads, lanes and by-lanes, said Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, Dhaka Wasa chief engineer. Chowdhury told The Independent that there were a total of 80 pumps in the three water pumping stations of Dhaka Wasa. He said the pumping stations started pumping out the accumulated rainwater in the city after a moderate or heavy rain. But water remains stagnant on the city roads if it rains incessantly, he added. The Wasa engineer said the Wasa pumping system can drain out 45 cubic metres of water per second. According to officials, rainfall above 40mm in Dhaka would take at least three hours to recede as the available pumping facility is capable of draining only 20mm of rainfall. The delay in pumping out storm water occurs because of a slow passage of the water to the pumping stations, Chowdhury said, adding that the slow movement was the result of an inadequate capacity of the storm drainage pipelines, severe lack of water retention areas, and canals clogged with solid waste. For immediate remedy, at least 12 per cent of the total city area should be made available as rainwater retention areas, said Chowdhury. Also, the remaining canals and storm drainage facility must be cleared, and the storm drainage network should be expanded with enhanced capacity, he added. Admitting that the Wasa needs at least double the number of its current pumping stations, the Wasa chief engineer said: Its a large capital investment. The Wasa board has already thought of spending on building new pumping stations, he added.