Water

Country Water Action: Bangladesh
DWASA Initiative on Piped Water Provision for the Urban Slum Dwellers

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is the only utility department that provides water and sanitation services to the urban people of Dhaka and Narayangonj in Bangladesh. It has successfully worked with NGOs in the past and is now developing a new initiative on water and sanitation with a wider range of collaborators.

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The water and sanitation services for the populace of Dhaka and Narayangonj in Bangladesh are incredibly insufficient, especially for the urban poor. In 1992, DWASA tested a strategy to bring piped water to two slum communities by organizing them to manage water points. The Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK), an NGO, helped mobilize the communities.

The pilot activity was a success and spawned the establishment of additional 120 water points. DWASA now hopes to repeat its success with a similar but broader project.

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The new project aims to improve access of slum dwellers to safe water and promote environmental sanitation and hygiene services. The main strategy is to organize strong community based organizations that will manage the project's interventions and outputs.

Among the expected outputs of the project are

• Community water points
• Community latrines
• Community sanitation blocks
• Solid and liquid waste management
• Storm water drainage

DWASA hopes to implement this project with a wide set of collaborators-community based organizations, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), national and local NGOs, and international development partners.

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The economic and social benefits expected from the project relate to a number of key action areas identified in the thematic framework for the Water and Poverty Initiative (WPI).

• Pro-poor economic growth and livelihood

Improving access to safe water minimizes the risks of water-borne diseases, thereby improving the general health of the slum dwellers and enhancing their active man-hours.

• Improved access to water

Community water points provide an affordable and safe means of getting water.

• Capacity building and empowerment

Giving the management of community water points, latrines and other project outputs to the community builds a strong sense of ownership and empowerment among the slum dwellers.

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Muhammad Nurul Huda Mian
Commercial Manager
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority