Water/Sanitation in Dhaka

One of the main challenges that Dhaka faces is its water and sanitation shortcomings. Over 4 million people in Dhaka are living without basic services like potable water and toilets. About two-thirds of the sewage that the city produces is left completely untreated, allowing it to seep into the waterways as well as the ground. As a result, almost 50,000 Bangladeshi children die each year from related waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid. The supply of water in many parts is inadequate and in some areas non-existent.

According to statistics released by Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority, the city's daily demand for water is about 2,100 million liters and it is only able to supply 1,600 million liters. Also, nearly 80 percent of the city is being paved, which is believed to be the main cause of depletion in the underground water level.

Currently, huge tube wells are used to extract the underground water but only to a certain extent because extracting too much would cause the land to be vulnerable to earthquakes. Another option being used is to supply the city with river water from water treatment plants. The Sayeedabad water treatment plant (such a plant currently under construction) has made it through the first construction phase but has been halted in its second phase awaiting negotiations with foreign development agencies. Two other major projects to attain water from the Padma for the city are also pending within various organizations. The city government is taking action to complete these negotiations in order to alleviate the city’s dire need of clean water.

Another major issue dealing with the water supply is the contamination of the rivers in proximity to Dhaka. The rivers are getting more and more polluted due to the unregulated drainage of sewage and other pollutants into the rivers. This has complicated the operation plans of the Sayeedabad plant and will also have effects on future projects designed to use these rivers as a source of water. Further rules and regulations are necessary if Dhaka plans to get cleaner rivers and, in turn, use them as a water source.

Sources
http://freshclick.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/water-crisis-of-dhaka-bangladesh/
http://pulitzercenter.org/projects/asia/dhaka%E2%80%99s-challenge-megacity-struggles-water-sanitation-and-hygiene
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=32058
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