Fahmida Sultana, a resident of Shewrapara, could not shower for three days due to persistent water shortage in her neighbourhood.
Expressing helplessness over the situation, Sultana said, “A shortage of water hits especially hard during the month of Ramadan. But now we are washing dishes with only a bucket of water. The entire locality is now helpless.”
The water crisis in Dhaka city is intensifying due to the extraction of a large amount of underground water, pollution, encroachment of the rivers and reservoirs around the city, and the inability to produce and supply water according to demand.
Usually, water shortages occur in the capital in April and May. As the water demand is higher during Ramadan than at other times, the residents in many areas of the city suffer greatly due to water shortages.
This year, water shortage is occurring in different areas, including in Mirpur, Shewrapara, Badda, Notun Bazar, Rampura, Merul, DIT, Malibagh, Basabo, Mugda, Manda, Lalbagh, Rayer Bagh, Old Dhaka, and Dakshinkhan, in the middle of March.
To meet the water demand, the residents of these areas have repeatedly called to get water through Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) vehicles, but they are not getting water on time.
According to a report by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Dhaka's groundwater level is dropping by 2 metres or about 7 feet per year.
Dhaka city water demand is 210-230 crore litres per day, while WASA efficiency is 290 crore litres. But Dhaka WASA is producing an average of 260 crore liters of water per day according to demand.
WASA Deputy Managing Director AKM Shahid Uddin said, “There is no shortage of water supply overall. However, the water demand has increased because of the hot weather and Ramadan. Due to the decrease in groundwater level, water extraction through deep tube wells is decreasing in some places, mainly in areas where there is a water shortage.
“Besides, there are fewer of Dhaka WASA's deep tube wells in some areas, so the people of those areas have to face some water shortages. Dhaka WASA is working on this matter. Hopefully, this problem will be solved soon.”
Hakim Ali, resident of old Dhaka, said, “Residents of this area are suffering as water shortage has started since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. WASA authorities have been informed in this regard.
In 10 Mods Zones of Dhaka WASA, water is delivered to homes by vehicle when the demand for water vehicles is reported. The price of water for each 6,000 liter car in Dhaka WASA is Tk 600.
However, the residents of Mirpur area say that although serials have been given for water vehicles, vehicles remain unavailable at the scheduled time. Besides, the residents are paying an additional amount on top of the fixed price.
Amirul Rahman, a resident of Mirpur-6, said, “WASA trucks are not always available even after getting serials. Three days ago my serial was 39, but I did not get it. We have to carry water upstairs with a bucket.
“In this way, it is possible for one day, two days, but it cannot be done every day while fasting.”
Experts call for a long term plan, policy and action to resolve the upcoming water crisis.
Adil Muhammad Khan, president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) and a professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University said, “The Dhaka city has 4-5 times more people than its capacity, and the population is increasing day by day.
“A large amount of groundwater is being extracted to meet the water demand of this huge number of people. As a result, the water level of Dhaka and its surrounding areas are going down. Besides, the rivers around Dhaka are one of the sources of the water.”
He added, “But due to encroachment and pollution, water cannot be supplied from there. Bringing water from Padma or Meghna, and using it is not sustainable because it will increase the price of water, which the consumers will have to bear.
“Therefore, we need to take a long-term plan and implement it immediately to free the surrounding rivers from pollution and encroachment.”
