Management and Strategies for Improving Water Allocation in Dhaka - Essay Example

Essay Name: Institute: Management and strategies for improving Water allocation in Dhaka Introduction Clean freshwater is undoubtedly important for supporting a healthy environment, enabling development, and sustaining life (Aman et al., 2009, p. 660). Thanks to economic and population growth, the demand of water for industrial, household, as well as agricultural applications is rising, whereas the quality and performance of irrigated land and watersheds are worsening and surface and ground water pollution is also escalating. In majority of developing countries, increasing industrial as well as urban water demand, in addition to global warming-stimulated increasing temperatures as well as precipitation patterns’ changes, has created the need for water transfers from uses in agriculture, endangering rural livelihoods as well as food production (Beck, 2005, p. 381). At present, 36 percent of all persons, almost 40 percent of grain production, as well as 22 percent of world’s gross domestic product are threatened because of water stress. According to United Nations, these figures by 2050 may increase to 52 percent, 50 percent and 45 percent in that order (Mascarenhas, 2012). This shocking statistics is attributed by economic growth, increasing population, as well as urbanisation and in developing countries, leading to more demand on resource consumption. Water can be reallocated from less to more industrious application with proper concentration on ecological, compensation, as well as water rights (Mascarenhas, 2012). Such processes are merely surfacing in less developed countries like Bangladesh. Water productivity in various uses is impacted by land management practices, the connection that is frequently absent in planning process. Improving efficiency of water use in less developed countries is imperative, so the essay seeks to examine how diverse management and designing strategies can be implemented to improve the allocation of water in an urban environment in a developing country, and the existing challenges and potential benefits particularly Dhaka, Bangladesh. Situation At present, there are more than one billion people with no food security globally. Besides, derisory policies lead to pitiable sharing of water resources, inadequately and insufficient designed water infrastructure restrains water access, and insufficient dependable information on natural resources accessibility limit water management as well as planning (Mascarenhas, 2012). The above-mentioned issues are central to unremitting poverty, nutrition and food insecurity, in addition to degradation of the environment in scores of less developed countries. A number of the largest cities in the world, including Dhaka rely a great deal on groundwater for their supply of water; however, it is doubtful that reliance on aquifers that takes lots of years to recharge can be sustainable (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 19). Management of water in Dhaka faces many challenges like insufficient sanitation, poor urban development, flooding, depletion of groundwater, contaminated river water, deplorable quality of service, as well as the subsistence of big slums wherein more than 30% of Dhaka population resides (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 24). Annually during the dry spell, Dhaka’s streets are always graced by people demonstration all asking for continuous clean water supply. For instance, the government of Bangladesh in 2010 was compelled to deploy troops to protect Dhaka’s water pumps after aggressive demonstrations from the locals. In this case, the government should espouse a novel approach to management of water resources in order to triumph over such failures, lessen poverty as well as preserve the ecosystem all within the sustainable development framework (Acey, 2010, p. 22). Strategies Strategy 1: The Urban Water Strategy Undoubtedly, a resolute strategy for water resources’ management in Dhaka must be implemented so as to steer clear of the predicament discussed above. In this regard, developing Dhaka’s water management framework can pencil in guidance as well as inspiration from a number of international norms and agreements, which includes UN’s Agenda 21. Introductory work must outline the achieved progress in relation to Agenda 21 outlined objectives, in addition to the World Water Vision’s recommendations. In this regard, Dhaka WASA (Water Supply & Sewerage Authority) must develop a 'situation report' on Dhaka’s current status with regard to Dhaka’s water quality, policy environment and usage within which the city’s water is managed (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 87). Water use trends as well as at urban levels must be monitored, and so Dhaka WASA must make a comparative analyses so as to comprehend the dimensions of water challenges and issues. Therefore, Water challenges and issues must plainly be related to other urgent problems facing the city, which includes poverty, food security, health, and education. A number of strategies that can be espoused by Dhaka WASA to ensure sustainable water management in Dhaka include water audits, demand management, integrated urban water resource management (IUWRM), and urban watersheds (Kraas et al., 2006, p. 126). Strategy 2: Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) IUWM is a holistic strategic planning mode that can be utilised by Dhaka WASA Dhaka WASA given that it takes a landscape view of water issues by examining water users who are competing in a certain river basin or catchment. Through flexible and coordinated planning amongst sectors using water, IUWM permits for the best sequencing of conventional and fresh infrastructure with optional management scenarios that balance efficiencies and facilitate conservation. IWUM approach will offer Dhaka people with a more versatile and diverse and set of alternatives for handling more complex and larger urban water challenges (Beck, 2005, p. 381). Evaluation Bangladesh has often been vulnerable to life-threatening flooding, with the recent one being in 2009, and its impact was not as much disastrous as that of 1998. Evidently, the 1998 floods inundated almost 56% of Dhaka, which included the majority of the eastern as well as almost 20% of the western parts of Dhaka. The 2009 floods inundated a number of Dhaka streets for numerous days, and these floods are mostly brought about by high rainfall in Dhaka as well as flooding from the nearby canals and rivers (Huq & Ala, 2003, p. 121). Dhaka’s most populated areas are usually safe from river flooding thanks to the surrounding bank created following the 1988 flood as well as raised roads. However, Dhaka’s eastern part where the majority of the development occurs includes low-lying floodplains, and so during the heavy rain season, it becomes submerged (Huq & Ala, 2003, p. 122). Deplorable quality of services has time and again been a main setback for water management in Dhaka. Statically, out of the estimated 15 million Dhaka’s dwellers, drinking water is supplied to 75% of dwellers through house connections, and an extra 5% through standpipes as well as 0.8% through bulk connections. In this regard, almost all bulk connections also known as Water Points are situated in slums and non-governmental organizations are in charge for the bulk connections’ installation, operation, and maintenance (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 89). Merely 40 percent of the customers have an incessant supply of water and averagely water is supplied for 15 hours daily. This has compelled 85 percent of non-residential customers and 75 percent of residential to install facilities for water storage at their premises (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 93). By a large amount, boiling was the most prevalent treatment technique. Most world largest cities as aforementioned rely heavily on ground water, but overexploitation of these groundwater sources leads to unsustainable management of water resources; thus creating shortage in urban areas. Even though Dhaka is situated on Buriganga River banks, just 18 percent of the city’s clean water supplies originate from surface water for the reason that it is exceedingly contaminated (Azharul Haq, 2006, p. 299). Furthermore, 82 percent of Dhaka’s water supply comes from groundwater by means of deep tubewells, whereas four comparatively small treatment plants for surface water offer the other 18 percent. Annually, the levels of groundwater levels are declining at two to three metres annually, and Dhaka’s water table has dropped by almost 50 metres in last forty (Azharul Haq, 2006, p. 298). This as a result has made the nearest underground water to be more than 60 meters underneath the ground level, and this distant will increase further by 2030 due to Dhaka’s ever increasing population. Estimates indicate that by 2015 a severe shortage of water supply may take place if Dhaka WASA does not stop over relying on groundwater. Even so, Dhaka WASA in collaboration with government of offering 39, 600, 000 gallons of water daily at an estimated cost of 50 million Euros, of which 71% was to be contributed by the South Korea government. Apart from overexploitation of groundwater, poor sanitation creates challenges in supplying water in urban areas. For instance, in Bangladesh city, almost 35% of domestic sewages receive no any type of treatment, and only 38 percent have access to sewerage system (Azharul Haq, 2006, p. 300). More astonishing is that Dhaka has just one plant for wastewater treatment, which can handle merely 120,000 m³ daily (Azharul Haq, 2006, p. 301). For that reason, almost 30 percent of Dhaka’s population make use of traditional septic tanks and 15 percent of the population make use of pit latrines as well as buckets. Cholera during monsoon season is unavoidable, given that floods result in sewage overflows; thus creating the need for strategies to solve this and above discussed issues. The first strategy that Dhaka WASA can utilise is water audits: Water audits offer an all-inclusive appraisal of urban and natural base of water resource. Besides, it helps in water policy development and evaluation, analysing and monitoring policy as well as programme performance, decision with regard to investment, as well as direct management of water resource (Kraas et al., 2006, p. 126). Another imperative strategy is demand strategy, which involves comprehending usage of water in Dhaka, in formulating strategies and creating tools for a broader and deeper reduction, water reuse for various purposes. Awareness-building as well as community education is a vital element in management of water demand. Importantly, issues of water pricing are as well included in this strategy (Kraas et al., 2006, p. 126). Applying IUWRM concept is another imperative strategy that can benefit the population of Dhaka. In this case, IUWRM is an up-and-coming concept, covering the whole water cycle of the urban area, which includes surface water, groundwater, desalination, and rainwater, in addition to treatment, distribution and storage, preservation and use of water resources (Kraas et al., 2006, p. 15). The last strategy that can be utilised by Dhaka WASA is considering Dhaka as urban watersheds: The challenges as well as issues of managing Dhaka’s water supply, stormwater and wastewater may be viewed from an integrative point of view by considering areas like Dhaka as urban watersheds. These viewpoints integrate issues like water resources pollution, surface water overflow, harvesting of rainwater from urban structures, and so forth (Beck, 2005, p. 384). Furthermore, it includes viewing urban areas as metabolic units, which may be described based on inputs and outputs as well as balance of material and cost of water life cycle. Potential Benefits If Dhaka WASA takes into consideration the aforementioned strategies, without doubt challenges and issues experienced in terms of water allocation and management of water supply by Dhaka’s population will be something of the past. Some of the potential benefits include improved public health since effective water infrastructures systems aid in protecting public health from sewage-related and waterborne infectious parasites, viruses, bacteria, as well as poisonous chemicals. Evidently, by implementing sustainable water infrastructure systems, Dhaka WASA will leave behind a long-lasting legacy of Dhaka health and welfare that may be inherited by the future generations (Beck, 2005, p. 384). Besides that, a carefully planned strategy and reliable, secure water supply for the future are vital to business investment as well as sustaining growth in Dhaka. What is more, a firm, sustainable approach to water allocation can lead to improved bond ratings that can assist Dhaka when in need of financing. Dhaka as well as communities across Bangladesh must showcase their unrelenting commitment to clean water by means of improved infrastructure, which is vital to new growth as well as associated commerce (Asian Development Bank, 2005, p. 88). Besides that, capitalising on the value of all money used to put up water infrastructure systems, helps substantiate when users rates should not be increased. Therefore, customers must not pay for incompetence, and through community education they can understand that when water sources are poorly managed, pollution in waterways is increased putting wildlife as well as the environment in danger (Beck, 2005, p. 386). Finally, espousing management practices that are more efficient can to a great extent reduce water usage, resulting in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases as well as a lessened harm on natural resources. Conclusion In conclusion, efforts must be made to boost supply of water by tapping innovative sources, but importantly, more efficient as well as productive use is made of presently accessible resources. Furthermore, improved management and planning of water resources is a must for sustainable development as well as making sure that benefits are received also by the less disadvantaged users in Dhaka, whilst protecting biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Besides that, sustainable water infrastructure will assist Bangladesh government make certain that open spaces as well as community natural resources will be unchanged and remain accessible for use by Dhaka future generations. References Acey, C. (2010). Gender and community mobilisation for urban water infrastructure investment in southern Nigeria. Gender and Development, 18(1), 11-26. Aman, C. B., Klutse, A., Rabbani, G., & Edward, R. (2009). Strategy for strengthening scientific capacity in developing countries on water and sanitation related issues. Desalination, 248(1-3), 658-665. Asian Development Bank. (2005). Dhaka Water Services Survey. Dhaka: Asian Development Bank. Azharul Haq, K. (2006). Water Management in Dhaka. Water Resources Development , 22(2), 291–311. Beck, M. (2005). Vulnerability of water quality in intensively developing urban watersheds. Environmental Modelling and Software, 20(4), 381 - 400. Huq, S., & Ala, M. (2003). Flood Management and Vulnerability of Dhaka City. In A. Kreimer, M. Arnold, & A. Carlin, Building safer cities: the future of disaster risk (pp. 121–135). Damodar Nagar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh: World Bank Publications. Kraas, F., Gaese, H., & Kyi, M. M. (2006). Megacity Yangon: Transformation Processes and Modern Developments. Berlin: LIT Verlag Münster. Mascarenhas, M. (2012, September 22). Sustainable, efficient, and equitable allocation of water, land and energy resources and their benefits in river basins. Retrieved from Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR): http://wle.cgiar.org/blog/2012/09/22/sustainable-efficient-and-equitable-allocation-of-water-land-and-energy-resources-and-their-benefits-in-river-basins/ Read More