The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority has taken up a long-term plan to go for surface water sources to meet the city dwellers’ safe water demand reducing its dependence on groundwater.
‘We putting emphasis on surface water sources to gradually reduce dependence on groundwater. We’re trying to bring water from the Padma and Meghna Rivers to supply water to capital Dhaka. We’re working to set up a water treatment plant beside the Padma River,’ WASA managing director Taksim A Khan told the news agency.
He said WASA has a plan to introduce sustainable and environment-friendly water management by 2020 to supply water from over-ground sources.
‘About 70 per cent of WASA water will come from surface sources by 2020 to ensure an environment-friendly water management,’ he said.
Only 22 per cent of WASA water currently comes from surface water sources, according to WASA officials.
About challenges to implement the plan, the WASA managing director said a huge amount of money ($1.6 billion) is needed for capital Dhaka to shift to surface water from the ongoing underground water source.
Referring to the highly contaminated water of the Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Balu and Turag, Taksim Khan said water of these rivers except Shitalakhya could not be treated due to highly chemical contamination. ‘So, we’ve taken up a plan to bring water far away from the Padma and Meghna rivers.’
Official sources said Dhaka WASA will bring water from Jamuldia point of the Padma River and a water treatment plant will be set up in Munshiganj.
Meanwhile, the authorities concerned appointed a consultant to give advice how to install the water treatment plant in the area.
The Dhaka WASA authorities expect that the construction work on the water treatment plant will be completed by 2016. Once fully operational, about 45 crore litres of water will come from the plant every day and the water will be supplied to the city through a 33-km pipeline.
Besides, the authorities concerned with financial support from the Asian Development Bank have already taken up another plan to set up another water treatment plant in the city’s Khilkhet area.
The water will be brought from the Meghna River to treat water in the plant. After the installation of the Khilkhet water plant, it will be capable to produce 50 crore litres of water a day.
A feasibility study on the plant has already been completed and negotiations are going on to appoint a consultant for setting up the water treatment plant, the officials said.
The production capacity of Dhaka WASA now stands at around 242 crore liter a day against the demand for 213 crore. Now WASA can stop operation of 100 underground water lifting power pumps.
-With New Age input
