Water help now on tap for millions

China-built plant in Bangladesh will provide city with fresh supply

DHAKA, Bangladesh - Residents of Bangladesh's coastal Khulna city are largely dependent on groundwater but during the summer months the water level falls drastically.

In addition to this, people in the southwestern region of the country have been experiencing saltier water due to frequent climatic impacts.

But hopes are high for a new water treatment plant to serve nearly 2 million people in Bangladesh's southwestern Khulna City, located about 180 kilometers southwest of the capital Dhaka.

China Harbour Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction, has been setting up the mega surface water treatment plant in Khulna.

Bangladesh's cabinet committee approved CHEC's bid to implement the first-of-its-kind $62.7 million project in 2015, the construction of which began in October last year.

Under the project, which spans 26 hectares of land, two reservoirs are also being constructed for storing the treated water to supply Khulna.

The reservoir will preserve about 775,000 cubic meters of water for the dry season.

After implementation of the surface water treatment project, around 2 million people in Khulna and the surrounding areas will have a fresh drinking water.

Officials say the plant, the third-largest in the country, will have the capacity to treat about 110 million liters of water every day.

They said the Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority is now in a position to meet about 43 percent of the total demand.

KWASA has been implementing the project with financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Asian Development Bank.

"Up to now the progress of the project is nearly 50 percent complete. We are very happy with this progress right now. And the work is in full-swing. Hopefully we will end this project on time," said Imrul Hassan, a senior engineer on the project.

"Right now the quality of the project and progress of this project is acceptable from a consultant's point of view. We are really pleased."

Hasan said that now Khulna WASA supplies 40 to 43 percent of total water demand.

"The source of the water is a deep tube well, but after the plant is ready nearly 80 percent of the total demand for water could be met from here to benefit the people," he said.

Masud Rana, project site engineer of China Harbour Engineering Company, said 50 percent or more of the project work has already been completed.

"After the project is implemented, people in this area, especially the millions of Khulna city dwellers, will be immensely benefited. Water will be brought to the plant for treatment from the Modhumati river (Bagherhat District near Khulna) and then purified water will be supplied from here for people to drink and other uses," he said.