Securing Bangladesh's water future
Engr. Khondkar Abdus Saleque | Tuesday, 24 February 2009
AIR and water are two very essential elements without which no living being can survive beyond a certain time. Nature has given us both and there are renewable sources which will probably never end. But we, human beings, through irrational use and various actions are depleting the subsurface water and polluting surface water and air. For various reasons emissions-induced draughts are causing drastic reduction of catchment levels and drying rivers which supply water for human beings and other living organisms.
Australia is the driest continent of which South Australia is the driest state. Recently, the author had opportunity to know about South Australia's plans to confront ongoing and emerging potable water supply challenges.
Bangladesh, our land of origin, is also suffering from serious crisis of pure drinking water. In summer, most of the major cities suffer from water crisis. Rivers around major cities have become polluted and these are becoming unsuitable for drinking after treatment in traditional plants. Excessive dependence on subsurface water has caused drastic lowering of water table making the country vulnerable to massive earth quake.
From Australian lesson, the author thought it may be useful to share experience with readers. These may help policymakers in searching ways to replicate these wherever appropriate in Bangladesh.
Australia is a huge continent. But most of its inland is desert and forest. People usually live in the coastal areas. Only 22 million people live in a country which is almost 20 times the size of Bangladesh. Major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and Cairns. River Murray is the major source of water for irrigation .It runs through several Australian states .Murray's future is very important for Australia's water future.
All states impose various levels of water restrictions mostly in summer to ensure rational use of water. From November 2006 till September 2008, the author worked in Queensland in Western Corridor Recycled Water Project for implementing a part of a huge recycled water scheme for Queensland Government. Now our company has just been awarded a work of constructing a desalinated water pipeline project in Adelaide, South Australia. It gives the author some opportunity to deal with ways how South Australia is planning to meet the challenges of water supply in the driest state of the driest continent.
South Australians are responsible user of water which helps a lot in ensuring optimum use. In recent years, Australia experienced the harshest drought in its history. South Australian Government has taken up a four-way strategy to secure water for its future. An in-depth discussion of the strategy will definitely be useful lesson for Bangladesh.
The four ways are desalination, recycling waste water and capturing storm water as well as increasing water storage capacity, protecting water catchments and managing water use. South Australians have successfully lobbied with Australian Federal Government for an independent authority to better manage Murray -Darling Basin. It has also secured funding for the Murray Future programme to help River Murray Communities and improve health of the river environment.
What lessons Bangladesh can take from above? Can we think of setting up desalination plants at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata, and Mongla and secure our water future of the respective region? Can we adopt Recycling Water Scheme for Dhaka City and gradually replicate in other major cities? Can we go for extensive dredging of major rivers around Dhaka and other areas to regain their storage capacity? Can we free the rivers from encroachment? Can we set up an independent authority to better manage Padma-Meghna -Jamuna basins like Murray Darling? Can we secure fund for Padma-Meghna-Jamuna basin's future like Murray future? All our rivers originate from India and Nepal. Can we bargain successfully our lower riparian right with India to make our rivers lively again as a precondition for even discussing transit for India? Why does not the Bangladesh High Commission in Australia engage with water system management in Australian states and learn useful lessons for Bangladesh?
Let us discuss the Aussie situation a little deeper for more insight.
We have the Bay of Bengal beside us which can be a guaranteed source of our water supply in a large area till eternity. Let us see how desalination system works. Desalination as we know it is the process of removing salt from seawater so that it is drinkable. Rivers and catchments are usual source of potable water. The river system can be relieved of the enormous pressure on it, if desalination of seawater takes over part of the water supply responsibility. As part of South Australian Government's four-way strategies, they are building a desalination plant at Port Stanvac to deliver about 25 per cent of South Australia's water need. The project will be carbon neutral and will help secure Adelaide water supply for years to come. BHP Billiton is also planning to set up another plant in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
Bangladesh's lesson from above: Bangladesh can set up desalination plant at Cox's Bazar, Patenga, Mongla and Kuakata. These can secure water future of the region. For a start, let Chittagong region have the first one built.
Let us now see how a desalination plant works.
A desalination plant removes dissolved salts and impurities from sea water and turns it into fresh drinking quality water. In Australia, desalination technology is in use for about 20 years to treat salty ground water and sea water. The most common technology used is reverse osmosis. High pressures forces sea water through a membrane which acts like a fine strainer to remove salt and impurities. The water is then treated to meet drinking water guidelines before entering the supply system. The by-product is brine which is piped offshore and is safely dispersed into the sea.
Building a desalination plant is expensive. The reason is the desalination technology has high demand worldwide and the materials required to construct the plant includes stainless steel, membranes and high pressure pumps.
Bangladesh can approach development partners for financial assistance to set up at least one plant. If we can encourage expatriate Bangladeshis, they can be equity partners for an initiative to build one in the private sector.
The benefits of a desalination plant are:
l The provision of high quality drinking water even when it does not rain, making it a climate-independent water source.
l It can be an alternative safeguarded water supply, reducing reliance on other source -like river water or subsurface tube well water.
Australian desalination plants:
l Western Australia set up Perth Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant in 2006. It supplies about 45 gigalitres annually which is about 17 per cent of Perth Fresh Water needs and is powered by renewable energy from Emu Downs Wind Farm.
l Queensland is currently building an Aus$1.0 billion plant at Tugun on the Gold Coast which when commissioned by end of this month will supply 46 gigalitre every year.
l Victoria is building a 150 gigalitre plant at Gippsland including interconnecting pipe work. The project cost is Aus$3.1 billion and is expected to be on stream by 2015.
l NSW is building a 90 gigalitre plant at Kumeli at a cost of Aus$1.78 billion.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Australia can liaise with any of the state governments to know further details of these desalination water schemes.
Rational water use: The second of the four-way strategy of South Australian Government is to manage its demand in the face of the worst drought on record. They maintained level three restrictions in water use in recent years and as a community saved more than 64 billion litres. Water savings in the country under restrictions and permanent water conservation measures are also contributing. Total regional consumption is down more than 8500 ML compared to five years' average. Half of South Australian homes have rainwater tanks and more tanks are being installed everyday. All major industry users are implementing water efficiency plans to better manage their water use. Water allocated to irrigators is being monitored carefully as Australia encourages efficient irrigation practices.
What Bangladesh can learn: Bangladeshi homes in city areas as well as villages can be provided with rainwater tanks to collect rainwater and use rationally to optimise use of WASA/ municipal water supply. All major industries must optimise water use and water use in irrigation must also be monitored to control misuses.
Recycling: Recycling is the third of the four-way strategy to secure water future for South Australia. South Australia recycles more of its waste water than any other capital city. About 29 per cent of its waste water is recycled every year, for irrigation, use in toilet flushing and garden watering. As part of South Australia's water utilization strategy, a range of significant storm water and waste water projects are underway to increase the use to nearly 49 per cent. Increased recycling will provide more water to agriculture, community parks and gardens and reduce flow of nutrient discharge into seawater, where it can harm delicate marine environment. The water recycling is a usually done by series of treatments. Reverse osmosis is the most advanced process.
What Bangladesh can learn: If Bangladesh can set up waste water recycled plants in major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and towns like Comilla and Mymensingh and can use recycled water for the use of power plants and industries. In this way, a substantial volume of fresh water supply for potable use can be saved. Rivers and waterways can be saved from pollution due to discharge of waste water. The Bangladesh High Commission in Australia must collect detailed information from South Australian and Queensland Government about their recycled water scheme for consideration of Bangladesh Government.
Catchment: Catchment is the last of the four-way strategy for South Australia. It gets water from a number of sources. But much of the state is dependent on the River Murray for its supply. On the average, Adelaide captures about half of its needs in the Mt Lofty Ranges, but SA reservoirs can only hold a twelve-months supply. South Australia is endeavouring to secure states' water supply by improving the health and efficiency of the rivers and water catchments, increasing storage capacity and managing groundwater reserves across the sate. South Australia State Government has successfully lobbied with the Federal Government to establish an independent authority to better manage the River Murray. It has also secured significant investment for projects-Murray Future which will help River Murray communities and improve the health of Murray.
Lessons for Bangladesh: We call Bangladesh a land of rivers .But our major rivers are dying, many of their tributaries have already died. India, our big neighbour has set up dam on the upstream and is withdrawing water unilaterally depriving Bangladesh of its legitimate right as a lower riparian country. We are also not dredging our rivers regularly. Moreover, unscrupulous elements have encroached most of the rivers. The rivers and streams are also polluted for uncontrolled disposal of poisonous industrial refuge. All these have contributed to serious health hazards and use of surface water crisis.
Bangladesh must take up the issue of water sharing from all its rivers with India very seriously now. If bilateral discussions do not bring result, this must be brought to regional and international forum. India wants to use Chittagong port .But did they not set up Farakka with an objective to ensure all season use of Kolkata port? Now any discussion on transit and use of Chittagong port must be based on releasing much more water all season from Farakka to regenerate our river system. We must not be deprived of our legitimate share of river water by India in a continued fashion. That is a silly big neighbourly attitude.
Bangladesh must also take up massive schemes to dredge all its rivers and keep dredging as and when required to maintain all season navigability of all its rivers and increase their storage capacities. All rivers must be freed from grabbers, strong actions should be taken to restrict river pollutions. In hilly areas, we must set up catchments to retain rainwater. Bangladesh can definitely learn lessons from Australia on how to utilise rivers and waterways.
Perhaps we are not yet realising that in not-too-distant future, water issues will create more intense crisis than the energy crisis that Bangladesh is experiencing. The new government must take appropriate actions before it gets late.
(The writer is an Energy Professional and resides in Australia. He can be reached at E-mail: [email protected])
Australia is the driest continent of which South Australia is the driest state. Recently, the author had opportunity to know about South Australia's plans to confront ongoing and emerging potable water supply challenges.
Bangladesh, our land of origin, is also suffering from serious crisis of pure drinking water. In summer, most of the major cities suffer from water crisis. Rivers around major cities have become polluted and these are becoming unsuitable for drinking after treatment in traditional plants. Excessive dependence on subsurface water has caused drastic lowering of water table making the country vulnerable to massive earth quake.
From Australian lesson, the author thought it may be useful to share experience with readers. These may help policymakers in searching ways to replicate these wherever appropriate in Bangladesh.
Australia is a huge continent. But most of its inland is desert and forest. People usually live in the coastal areas. Only 22 million people live in a country which is almost 20 times the size of Bangladesh. Major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and Cairns. River Murray is the major source of water for irrigation .It runs through several Australian states .Murray's future is very important for Australia's water future.
All states impose various levels of water restrictions mostly in summer to ensure rational use of water. From November 2006 till September 2008, the author worked in Queensland in Western Corridor Recycled Water Project for implementing a part of a huge recycled water scheme for Queensland Government. Now our company has just been awarded a work of constructing a desalinated water pipeline project in Adelaide, South Australia. It gives the author some opportunity to deal with ways how South Australia is planning to meet the challenges of water supply in the driest state of the driest continent.
South Australians are responsible user of water which helps a lot in ensuring optimum use. In recent years, Australia experienced the harshest drought in its history. South Australian Government has taken up a four-way strategy to secure water for its future. An in-depth discussion of the strategy will definitely be useful lesson for Bangladesh.
The four ways are desalination, recycling waste water and capturing storm water as well as increasing water storage capacity, protecting water catchments and managing water use. South Australians have successfully lobbied with Australian Federal Government for an independent authority to better manage Murray -Darling Basin. It has also secured funding for the Murray Future programme to help River Murray Communities and improve health of the river environment.
What lessons Bangladesh can take from above? Can we think of setting up desalination plants at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata, and Mongla and secure our water future of the respective region? Can we adopt Recycling Water Scheme for Dhaka City and gradually replicate in other major cities? Can we go for extensive dredging of major rivers around Dhaka and other areas to regain their storage capacity? Can we free the rivers from encroachment? Can we set up an independent authority to better manage Padma-Meghna -Jamuna basins like Murray Darling? Can we secure fund for Padma-Meghna-Jamuna basin's future like Murray future? All our rivers originate from India and Nepal. Can we bargain successfully our lower riparian right with India to make our rivers lively again as a precondition for even discussing transit for India? Why does not the Bangladesh High Commission in Australia engage with water system management in Australian states and learn useful lessons for Bangladesh?
Let us discuss the Aussie situation a little deeper for more insight.
We have the Bay of Bengal beside us which can be a guaranteed source of our water supply in a large area till eternity. Let us see how desalination system works. Desalination as we know it is the process of removing salt from seawater so that it is drinkable. Rivers and catchments are usual source of potable water. The river system can be relieved of the enormous pressure on it, if desalination of seawater takes over part of the water supply responsibility. As part of South Australian Government's four-way strategies, they are building a desalination plant at Port Stanvac to deliver about 25 per cent of South Australia's water need. The project will be carbon neutral and will help secure Adelaide water supply for years to come. BHP Billiton is also planning to set up another plant in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
Bangladesh's lesson from above: Bangladesh can set up desalination plant at Cox's Bazar, Patenga, Mongla and Kuakata. These can secure water future of the region. For a start, let Chittagong region have the first one built.
Let us now see how a desalination plant works.
A desalination plant removes dissolved salts and impurities from sea water and turns it into fresh drinking quality water. In Australia, desalination technology is in use for about 20 years to treat salty ground water and sea water. The most common technology used is reverse osmosis. High pressures forces sea water through a membrane which acts like a fine strainer to remove salt and impurities. The water is then treated to meet drinking water guidelines before entering the supply system. The by-product is brine which is piped offshore and is safely dispersed into the sea.
Building a desalination plant is expensive. The reason is the desalination technology has high demand worldwide and the materials required to construct the plant includes stainless steel, membranes and high pressure pumps.
Bangladesh can approach development partners for financial assistance to set up at least one plant. If we can encourage expatriate Bangladeshis, they can be equity partners for an initiative to build one in the private sector.
The benefits of a desalination plant are:
l The provision of high quality drinking water even when it does not rain, making it a climate-independent water source.
l It can be an alternative safeguarded water supply, reducing reliance on other source -like river water or subsurface tube well water.
Australian desalination plants:
l Western Australia set up Perth Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant in 2006. It supplies about 45 gigalitres annually which is about 17 per cent of Perth Fresh Water needs and is powered by renewable energy from Emu Downs Wind Farm.
l Queensland is currently building an Aus$1.0 billion plant at Tugun on the Gold Coast which when commissioned by end of this month will supply 46 gigalitre every year.
l Victoria is building a 150 gigalitre plant at Gippsland including interconnecting pipe work. The project cost is Aus$3.1 billion and is expected to be on stream by 2015.
l NSW is building a 90 gigalitre plant at Kumeli at a cost of Aus$1.78 billion.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Australia can liaise with any of the state governments to know further details of these desalination water schemes.
Rational water use: The second of the four-way strategy of South Australian Government is to manage its demand in the face of the worst drought on record. They maintained level three restrictions in water use in recent years and as a community saved more than 64 billion litres. Water savings in the country under restrictions and permanent water conservation measures are also contributing. Total regional consumption is down more than 8500 ML compared to five years' average. Half of South Australian homes have rainwater tanks and more tanks are being installed everyday. All major industry users are implementing water efficiency plans to better manage their water use. Water allocated to irrigators is being monitored carefully as Australia encourages efficient irrigation practices.
What Bangladesh can learn: Bangladeshi homes in city areas as well as villages can be provided with rainwater tanks to collect rainwater and use rationally to optimise use of WASA/ municipal water supply. All major industries must optimise water use and water use in irrigation must also be monitored to control misuses.
Recycling: Recycling is the third of the four-way strategy to secure water future for South Australia. South Australia recycles more of its waste water than any other capital city. About 29 per cent of its waste water is recycled every year, for irrigation, use in toilet flushing and garden watering. As part of South Australia's water utilization strategy, a range of significant storm water and waste water projects are underway to increase the use to nearly 49 per cent. Increased recycling will provide more water to agriculture, community parks and gardens and reduce flow of nutrient discharge into seawater, where it can harm delicate marine environment. The water recycling is a usually done by series of treatments. Reverse osmosis is the most advanced process.
What Bangladesh can learn: If Bangladesh can set up waste water recycled plants in major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and towns like Comilla and Mymensingh and can use recycled water for the use of power plants and industries. In this way, a substantial volume of fresh water supply for potable use can be saved. Rivers and waterways can be saved from pollution due to discharge of waste water. The Bangladesh High Commission in Australia must collect detailed information from South Australian and Queensland Government about their recycled water scheme for consideration of Bangladesh Government.
Catchment: Catchment is the last of the four-way strategy for South Australia. It gets water from a number of sources. But much of the state is dependent on the River Murray for its supply. On the average, Adelaide captures about half of its needs in the Mt Lofty Ranges, but SA reservoirs can only hold a twelve-months supply. South Australia is endeavouring to secure states' water supply by improving the health and efficiency of the rivers and water catchments, increasing storage capacity and managing groundwater reserves across the sate. South Australia State Government has successfully lobbied with the Federal Government to establish an independent authority to better manage the River Murray. It has also secured significant investment for projects-Murray Future which will help River Murray communities and improve the health of Murray.
Lessons for Bangladesh: We call Bangladesh a land of rivers .But our major rivers are dying, many of their tributaries have already died. India, our big neighbour has set up dam on the upstream and is withdrawing water unilaterally depriving Bangladesh of its legitimate right as a lower riparian country. We are also not dredging our rivers regularly. Moreover, unscrupulous elements have encroached most of the rivers. The rivers and streams are also polluted for uncontrolled disposal of poisonous industrial refuge. All these have contributed to serious health hazards and use of surface water crisis.
Bangladesh must take up the issue of water sharing from all its rivers with India very seriously now. If bilateral discussions do not bring result, this must be brought to regional and international forum. India wants to use Chittagong port .But did they not set up Farakka with an objective to ensure all season use of Kolkata port? Now any discussion on transit and use of Chittagong port must be based on releasing much more water all season from Farakka to regenerate our river system. We must not be deprived of our legitimate share of river water by India in a continued fashion. That is a silly big neighbourly attitude.
Bangladesh must also take up massive schemes to dredge all its rivers and keep dredging as and when required to maintain all season navigability of all its rivers and increase their storage capacities. All rivers must be freed from grabbers, strong actions should be taken to restrict river pollutions. In hilly areas, we must set up catchments to retain rainwater. Bangladesh can definitely learn lessons from Australia on how to utilise rivers and waterways.
Perhaps we are not yet realising that in not-too-distant future, water issues will create more intense crisis than the energy crisis that Bangladesh is experiencing. The new government must take appropriate actions before it gets late.
(The writer is an Energy Professional and resides in Australia. He can be reached at E-mail: [email protected])