Water shortages in Chattogram have worsened due to a lack of rainfall, while reduced flow in the Karnaphuli River is hindering water purification effort, intensifying the sufferings of the city residents in the gruelling urban heat.
Officials at the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewage Authority said that they are mulling over selecting alternative water intake point in the Karnaphuli and once that point is operationalised, they would stop lifting water from Halda River in dry season when its water is exposed to more salinity.
Currently, the Chattogram WASA lifts water from the Karnaphuli and Halda rivers with the latter鈥檚 water becoming increasingly saline for the last couple of years, particularly in the dry season.
Currently the CWASA supplies 43 crore litres of water daily to the city residents against a demand of 50 crore litres from three plants, namely, the Sheikh Russel Water Treatment Plants, Mohra Water Treatment Plants and Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant-1, according to officials.
鈥楾he water supply faced disruption during the dry season only and we are primarily thinking of lifting water from the Karnaphuli only to reduce the salinity in the supplied water,鈥� said CWASA chief engineer Maksud Alam.
鈥楽alinity level is increasing in the Halda and it becomes even higher during the days of new moon and full moon,鈥� he added.聽
Maksud also said that during monsoon they can supply 50 crore litres daily as the water flow increases in the rivers. He hopes that both the water scarcity and salinity issues will be minimised once they can choose and operationalise the alternative intake point.
The CWASA鈥檚 water goes to around 87,000 connections around the city. Of them, 91 per cent, or 80,000 are domestic users, while 9 per cent or 7,000 are commercial.
Meanwhile, on March 27 this year, the CWASA formed a committee to increase the price of water. On April 2 at its 80th board meeting, the authority submitted the proposal to increase the prices by 30 per cent for residential and 50 per cent for commercial users.
After the price increase was executed in 2022, the current price for 1,000 litres of water stands at Tk 18 for residential users, and Tk 37 for commercial users.
According to the new proposal, the new price will be Tk 23.40 for residential users and Tk 55.5 will be for commercial users.
CWASA services have yet to reach some of the areas in the Chattogram city, especially in the areas stretching from Patenga to the Airport and some portions of City Gate locality under the Akbar Shah police station.
CWASA water consumer Abu Sayd, a landlord having 11 tenant families in the Baganbari residential area under the Akbar Shah police station, said that disruption in water supply has brought terrible sufferings during the hot summer days to both his family and the tenants.
鈥楾he water supply is suspended five days a week and each time it is suspended for 3鈥�4 hours. When the supply resumes the water is too salty to drink,鈥� he added.
Sayd also said that he pays Tk 7,000 every month in water bills for his entire building and will face serious problem if the tariff increases further.
Another city resident Rina Akter, who lives in the airport area and uses tubewell water for daily activities, said that for drinking and cooking she purchases water from some water suppliers.
鈥業 need water worth Tk 3,000 every month which I buy from a water carrier. During summer I need to buy more water,鈥� she added.
Rina, a housewife and mother of three children, said that the expenses for getting the water for cooking and drinking puts serious pressure on their family budget, which will not reduce until they get a supply water connection from the CWASA.
CWASA managing director AKM Fazlullah, while blaming climate change for the water crisis and salinity, said that the increasing salinity although worsens the taste of water it does not harm human body.
鈥楥limate change is delaying the coming of monsoon in the recent years, causing water scarcity and an increase in salinity, while we are facing a shortfall of 7鈥�8 crore litres per day,鈥� said the CWASA managing director.
鈥楩reshwater crisis is a global problem and we have to accept the reality until the monsoon sets in,鈥� he said.
About the tariff increase proposal, Fazlullah pointed out that it is high time the price was increased as purchase capacities of the consumers have increased in the country.
The finalising of the decision to increase water prices, however, lies with the cabinet and it may take 7鈥�8 months more to be implement the decision, provided the prime minister signs the proposal.
