Rainwater harvesting to resolve water crisis : Experts

Experts at a water convention  underscored Monday the need for introducing an integrated water management system at national level as the underground water level is depleting in an alarming rate due to the usage of groundwater, signalling a severe future crisis for the urban population, reports UNB.

WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with CSE-India, RAiN Forum and International Training Network Centre at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) jointly organised the 2nd Water Convention at in the city.

The experts emphasised harvesting rainwater and preserving those in separate reservoirs for further use as one of the best alternatives to groundwater.

In his keynote paper, M Feroze Ahmed, Vice-chancellor of Stamford University, said only rainwater could meet the need of drinking water if preserved properly. "On an average, Bangladesh needs 160 billion cubic metre of water for drinking purpose while the yearly average rainfall is 200 to 250 billion cubic metre."

Arsenic mitigation and other groundwater related complexities could be reduced through rainwater harvesting, he further explained.

Dr Md Khairul Islam, country representative of WaterAid Bangladesh, M Abu Sadeque, director of Housing and Building Research Institute under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh were also present on the occasion.

"We need to acknowledge that by 2021, we'll face an acute scale of crisis for water. To combat the situation, we need a comprehensive national capacity," said Dr Khairul Islam.