DEMAND OF WATER IN THE CITY

Water shortage in Dhaka city is not a common thing. It has been like this for over the years. None of the Governments could play any significant role in solving water crisis problem. Dhaka Wasa is thinking of raising the number of pumps to lift underground water. They do know very well that underground water level is decreasing day by day but still they are doing this act.

The increasing number of pumps and subsequent depletion of groundwater table increases the risk of disasters like landslide, subsidence and earthquake.

A report shows that "Since January 2007, Wasa has installed 29 new water pumps and added 15 crore litres of water to the daily supply."

The report also states that "Wasa collects 153 crore litres of water from ground through a total of 490 water pumps. Each of the pumps lifts 3,000 litres of water in a minute."

We do not know when will these steps be taken into action but all we do know is that we should not lift too much underground water. It is for our own safety. A report shows that the depth of underground water is decreasing. Due to increase in water pumps the level of underground water is getting down. In 1998, there were only 243 water pumps to lift water but now it is 490. Planting water pumps is the easiest way to supply water but never ever any action was taken to recharge the underground water. The level of underground water has dropped down to 61.18 metres. If this continue to happen then in future it will be hard to lift up underground water.

It is estimated that the daily requirement of water in Dhaka city is about 200 crore litres while Wasa supplies 180 crore litres, leaving a shortage of 20 crore litres. Out of this 180 crore litres of water, 154.50 crore litres of water come from 490 water pumps that lift underground water, 22.50 crore litres of water from Saidabad water treatment plant and 4 crore litres of water from Chandighat water treatment plant.

The pumps extracts 85 percent of the daily water supply from underground while the rest 15 percent comes from the two water treatment plants.

It is heard that the 2nd phase of the work in Water treatment plant at Sydabad will start soon. Once this is completed then it will be possible to supply 22.50 crore litres of water daily.

And Dhaka WASA is also going to implement another water treatment plant at Khilkhet. The source of water will be from Meghna river.