Bangladesh : Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban water supply

Enhancing efficiency gains. The development of urban infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid urbanization in Bangladesh. Providing sufficient drinking water to meet growing demand in Dhaka has been particularly challenging due to the city's average annual population growth rate of 3.6% since 2005, which has far exceeded the 1.1% national average. The two ongoing ADB projects have improved the distribution networks in 7 of the DWASAs 10 zones by establishing district metered areas (DMAs) and working to reduce the ratio of nonrevenue water in the system in each DMA. Unlike before, the piped water supply in the DMAs commissioned so far is now available 24 hours a day. Physical water losses from these systems have been cut from 40% to less than 15%. Good quality potable water from system taps is now assured. The projects have also added 9,500 water connections.

However, DWASA still has challenges. It needs to expand efficiency gains throughout its service area. It must reduce overall physical losses and the estimated 26% overall nonrevenue water ratio in its system operations.

Increasing climate change resilience. Climate change is likely to exacerbate the threats to Dhaka's already vulnerable water security. The decline in water availability due to altered precipitation patterns and increased evapotranspiration caused by higher temperatures, and the rising incidence of water pollution from flooding are major climate risks. The use of the DMA-based approach reduces the city's vulnerability to water shortages by making more water available through efficient water management systems. DWASA also needs to adapt to future climate change effects by enhancing its institutional abilities in the sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M) of DMA systems. In addition, it must be able to monitor water quality to detect and mitigate water pollution and salinization. A public program to make the public aware of the need to conserve water will be necessary to prepare the city to withstand adverse climate events. Improving access to piped water in LICs will increase the resilience of the poor in the face of climate change and the risk of natural disasters.

Sustainable management of district metered areas. Managing DMAs professionally and sustaining the newly achieved low levels of nonrevenue water ratios are both critical to keeping DWASAs operations sustainable. DWASAs capacity to carry out O&M in the DMAs must be improved, since a growing number of DMAs will be commissioned and handed over by contractors to DWASA operational staff under the ongoing projects. DWASA needs to institutionalize the DMA-based approach by updating operating procedures, training and orienting operations staff in DMA management, and developing a comprehensive DMA management plan. The project will help DWASA make the necessary institutional transformation into a highly efficient and financially sound water utility.

(i) safe drinking water made available for all urban populations (Seventh Five-Year Plan, 2016-2020); and (ii) adaptive capacity of water sector enhanced for reducing climate change vulnerability (National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation).

Sustainable provision of a more reliable, improved, and climate-resilient supply of water ensured in Dhaka City

Distribution network strengthened.

Sustainable managerial capacity of DMA enhanced.

Capacity for quality service delivery enhanced.

Ongoing. Only measurable at completion. Achieved, 1,984 km of water distribution network rehabilitated. 139,684 household and community connections rehabilitated, including 119,484 replaced meters, benefitting about 1.54 million women.22,359 new or legalized household and community connections installed benefitting about 254,781 women.2,028 new or legalized connections to LICs provided, benefitting about 48,729 women. Achieved, all remaining works of DWSSDP completed.

SNRWRP submitted on 15 Mar 2022, workshop held and implementation ongoing. Smart Water Management Tools (SWMT) has been developed and implementation is in progress including calculation of NRW etc. Achieved, till date, 800 DWASA staff have been trained for DMA management. All 11 eligible women staff (100%) have been participated in the training. Updated SOP Manual submitted to DWASA on 25 May 2023 and implementation in progress. 3 SCADA packages have been awarded and implementation in progress. 1 package for AMR implementation is at bid evaluation stage (rebid).

Upgraded five-year corporate business plan submitted to DWASA on 26 June 2023, with addressing of comments received from the workshop held on 14 March 2023. Implementation in progress. Awareness campaign program ongoing in 7 zones.

" In community consultation meetings, total number of participants were 1,670,711 including 836,556 (50.07%) women participants.

" 1,857 consultation sessions (366 Public consultations, 710 FGDs and 781 tea stall meetings) have been conducted. Total number of participants were 35,994 including 11,619 (32.28%) women participants.

Achieved, of the awareness campaign program arranged,

" In community consultation meetings, about 50.07% of the participants were women.

" In consultation sessions, about 32.28% of the participants were women.

41 CBOs are already formed (17 new CBOs and 24 existing CBOs in LIC areas). Training/orientation for 19 CBO will be conducted by December 2023. Combinedly in existing and newly formed CBOs; committees comprised of total 340 members including 203 women (59.7%), 208 members are in leadership position including 108 women (51.9%). In the case of newly formed CBOs, 105 members are in leadership position, including 58 women (55.2%). Achieved, of the CBOs organized, about 58.7% are women members, and 51.3% of the leadership position are held by women.

Water quality monitoring equipment are received and installed. Training on water quality monitoring system to be conducted by December 2023.

Laboratory equipment are received and installed. Training will be conducted by the supplier by December 2023.

Ongoing, gender action plan to be fully implemented by December 2023.

Ongoing, preparation of bidding document for 1 project (Rayerbazar sewage treatment plant) in progress; and will be completed by December 2023.