The Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is awaiting final approval of a major development project involving Tk3,745 crore to improve the city’s water supply and distribution system.

The Chattogram Water Supply Improvement Project, with financial support from the World Bank, aims to replace 300 km of existing pipelines and install 87,000 smart meters across the city.

The project also plans to establish 46 District Metering Areas (DMAs), enabling better water supply and continuous monitoring. To ensure water supply during dry seasons, 40 deep tube wells will be installed to handle emergencies.

According to Chattogram Wasa officials, the project is expected to not only improve the city’s water supply infrastructure but also improve operational efficiency and increase revenue for the organization.

After conducting surveys and preparing the development project proposal, government funding approval was secured on 16 October.

The Project Appraisal Committee approved the proposal on Thursday (November 14) at a meeting chaired by Planning Commission Member (Physical and Infrastructure Department) Soleman Khan.

It is now awaiting final approval from the National Economic Council’s (Ecnec) Executive Committee, and the loan agreement is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

Chattogram Wasa currently operates a 1,300 km pipeline network covering 168.21 square kilometers in the city. Previous major pipeline replacement projects include 45 km under Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-01, 150 km under Chattogram Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (CWSISP) and 700 km under Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02, which focused on the city center.

Pipeline network upgrades, challenges

Chattogram Wasa currently operates a 1,300 km pipeline network covering 168.21 square kilometers in the city.

Previous major pipeline replacement projects include 45 km under Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-01, 150 km under Chattogram Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (CWSISP) and 700 km under Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02, which focused on the city center.

But areas like Patenga, Khulshi, Kattali, Zakir Hossain Road, Foy’s Lake, Akbar Shah and Hathazari are still dependent on 400 km old pipelines, resulting in low water pressure and erratic supply.

In addition, a 133 km long pipeline is being installed in Boalkhali, Patiya and Anwara upazilas as part of the Bhandal Jhuri Water Supply Project, which is expected to be completed this year.

The city is divided into six hydraulic zones for water supply. The Karnaphuli Service Area in the city center benefits from the Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02, with pipeline replacement and a DMA system providing uninterrupted supply to 46,000 connections, reducing non-revenue water to 10%.

However, other zones with old pipelines, leakage and illegal connections serve about 40,000 connections without balanced supply. The new project will benefit around 45,000 connections, serving 10-12 lakh people.

A total of 145 DMAs are required across the operational area, with 59 already installed under Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02 and 46 more planned. DMA technology enables real-time monitoring of water supply volume and pressure through a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

Chattogram Wasa’s executive engineer, Rezaul Ahsan Chowdhury, told The Business Standard, “We will keep the good parts of the old pipelines and replace the rest. To solve problems like water turbidity or salinity during monsoon, 40 deep tube wells in Kalurghat will be replaced.”

“By installing DMAs and smart meters, we will be able to monitor all data related to water supply, pressure and other calculations. Also, the storage facilities at Nasirabad and Halishahar will be renovated.”

Smart meter installation, technology upgrades

Chattogram Wasa serves over 91,000 connections, with 93% residential and 7% commercial, providing water to nearly 32 lakh people. However, at least 10% of the connected users do not receive regular water supply.

The organization has a daily water production capacity of 50 crore litres, drawn from the Karnaphuli and Halda rivers, with additional supply from deep tube wells.

The Sheikh Russel Water Supply Project supplies 9 crore litres, the Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plants supply 28.3 crore liters (14.3 crore liters each), and the Mohra Water Supply Project supplies 90 million litres. Bhandal-Juri water supply project, when completed, will increase daily production by 6 crore litres.

The current daily water requirement is 56 crore litres, estimated to increase to 70 crore liters by 2032 and 122 crore liters by 2040.

Chattogram Wasa’s non-revenue water level is 25-30%, much higher than the global standard of less than 5%. This results in a loss of Tk14-17 crore of water every month.

Long-standing complaints of corruption among meter inspectors and officials have contributed to revenue losses, and management weaknesses have prevented resolution of these issues.

Under the new project, 87,000 automated smart meters will be installed, along with 3,000 additional smart meters through a pilot project.

Chattogram Wasa is also implementing a meter reading app, Management Dashboard and NRW Monitoring Tool with JICA’s support to improve institutional management and establish a data-driven system. This will help increase revenue collection, eliminate illegal water supply and reduce non-revenue water.

The project will provide water to nearly 40,000 citizens in 19 low-income areas and improve sanitation for 50,000 slum dwellers with sanitary latrines, septic tanks and decentralized wastewater treatment systems.

To transform into a modern, customer-friendly organization, the project includes improvements to institutional systems, the introduction of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for the integrated management of all operations and practical training over three years.

A GIS-based Asset Management System will also be established to manage assets such as water treatment plants and pipelines. In addition, a proposal has been made to build a modern warehouse.

The organization’s chief engineer, Maksud Alam, told TBS, “By installing new pipelines and implementing the DMA system, we will be able to control and monitor water pressure as needed. This will ensure regular water supply to customers and help reduce the rate of non-revenue water.”

Successful cost savings in previous projects

Chattogram Wasa’s Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02 saved Tk1,407 crore, with the project’s cost coming in at Tk3,082.86 crore, compared to the original estimate of Tk4,489.15 crore.

The project included the construction of a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 14.3 crore litres, 692 km of distribution pipelines, 59 DMAs and 35.3 km of transport and transmission pipelines, and was completed in June 2023.

An evaluation report by the Ministry of Planning’s Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Department in June 2024 showed savings in various areas, including Tk527 crore in contingency (which was not used), Tk277 crore in customs duty, Tk19 crore in compensation, Tk9 crore in Project Implementation Support, and nearly Tk5 crore in repairs and maintenance.

Project director Maksud Alam said: “No public funds were wasted. Unnecessary expenditure was not incurred, therefore savings were achieved.”