Since 2011, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University had begun studying the ‘State of Cities’ on the most pressing issues of urbanization in Bangladesh to provide research-based insights for innovative, practical solutions to urban challenges. The objective of the “State of Cities 2018: Water Governance in Dhaka” study was to find ways of ensuring equitable and affordable access to safe water by assessing the present water usage; future water demand; capacity of the water supply system to meet the current and future water demand; water quality; and management of surface water sources. With 4.2 crore urban residents, Bangladesh has one of the largest urban populations in the world; it is also growing fast—in number as well as economically. How to meet the water demand of this huge, concentrated, and increasingly prosperous urban population is becoming a major challenge and will also be crucial to achieving the targets of SDG 6: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for all. It was found that though the Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is mandated to supply water to the inhabitants of Dhaka, it has to depend on multiple stakeholders, including public and private entities. Moreover, DWASA alone cannot meet the water demand, if citizens do not use water efficiently. The study concludes that DWASA needs to work in close collaboration with the water users by increasing communication and interaction between DWASA and its users in order to achieve the SDG 6 and ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Authors: Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Mohammad, Zia; Ashraf, Zeeshan; Hoque, Md. Mahan Ul; Tasnim, Montajima; Ahamed, Raihan; Mozumder, Tanvir Ahmed; Talukder, Sumaiya Kabir; Matin, Maria
Type: Report
Year: 2019
