Securing water for tomorrow
Engr Khondkar Abdus Saleque | Friday, 6 March 2009
AIR and water, two plentiful gifts of nature, are essential for the survival of all living beings. Their renewable sources will probably never end. But, irrational use and human interference are depleting and polluting air and surface water. Emission-induced draughts are drastically reducing catchment levels and drying up rivers, which supply water for human habitations and other living organisms.
In Australia, the driest continent, South Australia is the driest state. Recently South Australia took plans to solve its potable water supply challenges. Bangladesh 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 became polluted and unsuitable for drinking. Even treatment in traditional manner does not make the water fit for drinking.
Excessive subsurface water use has drastically lowered the water table, making the country vulnerable to quakes. The Australian experience could be useful for Bangladesh. The policy makers in Bangladesh could replicate it.
Most of the inland of the huge Australian continent is desert or under forest coverage. People usually live in the coastal areas. Only 22 million people live in Australia which is almost 20 times the size of Bangladesh. Major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwins and Cairns. The river Murray, the major source of water for irrigation runs through several Australian states. The Murray will continue to be important for Australia's water future.
All the states of Australia impose varying degrees of restrictions on water use in summers to ensure rational use. From November 2006 to September 2008, the author worked in Queensland in Western Corridor Recycled Water Project for implementing a part of a huge recycled water scheme for the Queensland government. The project has just been awarded the work for laying the desalinated water pipeline in Adelaide, South Australia. The South Australian project is planning to meet the challenges of water supply in the driest state of the driest continent.
South Australians are working to ensure optimum water use. In the wake of the harshest draught in its history, the South Australian government has taken a four-way strategy to secure water for the future. The strategy should be useful for Bangladesh.
The four-way strategy involves desalination, recycling waste water and capturing storm water, as well as increasing water storage capacity, protecting water catchments and managing water use. South Australia has successfully lobbied with the Australian federal government for an independent authority to better manage the Murray-Darling basin. It also secured funding for the Murray Future Programme to help the River Murray communities and improve the river environment.
By setting up desalination plants at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Mongla, Bangladesh can secure water future of the respective areas. Recycling water schemes can be replicated for Dhaka and other major cities of Bangladesh. Extensive dredging and freeing major rivers of encroachment around Dhaka and other areas could possibly restore their storage capacity. An independent authority could be set up to better manage the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna basins like the Murray-Darling. Bangladesh can secure a fund to manage the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna future like the case with the Murray future. As almost all the rivers of Bangladesh originate in India and Nepal, it has to negotiate to secure its riparian rights with India to make the rivers flowing with water in Bangladesh again. Bangladesh water experts ought to learn from water system management in the Australian states.
The Bay of Bengal can be a guaranteed source of water supply for many areas of Bangladesh for eternity. Let us see how desalination system works. Much of the pressure on surface water can be eased by desalination of sea water to supply to habitations. Under its four-way strategy, South Australia is building a desalination plant at Port Stanvac to meet about 25 per cent of South Australia's water needs. Carbon neutral from the project will help secure water supply for Adelaide for years to come.
For a start Chittagong can have the first desalination plant. A desalination plant removes dissolved salts and impurities from sea water to make it fit for drinking. Australia has been using desalination technology for about 20 years to treat salty ground and sea water. Revers Osmosis, the most common technology in use in Australia, uses high pressure to force sea water through a membrane, which acts like a fine strainer to remove salt and other impurities. The water is then treated to meet drinking water guidelines before supplying to the urban centres. Brine, the by-product is piped offshore into the sea. For high demand world wide desalination plants made of stainless steel, membranes and high pressure pumps is expensive. Bangladesh can approach development partners for financial assistance to set up at least one plant. It can encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to be equity partners for setting up a plant in the private sector.
Desalination plants can provide quality drinking water even when it does not rain. It is a climate independent water source. It can be an alternative source of water supply, reducing reliance on river as well as subsurface tube well water.
Western Australia set up the Perth Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant in 2006. It supplies about 45 gigalitres of water annually, which is about 17 per cent of Perth's fresh water supply system, run by renewable energy from Emu Downs Wind Farm. Queensland is currently building an Aus$1.0 billion plant at Tugun on the Gold Coast, which will supply 46 gigalitre of water every year beginning end of this month. Victoria is building a 150 gigalitre plant at Gippsland to be interconnected with pipe line. To cost Aus$3.1 billion, the project is expected to be on stream by 2015. 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 government to know the details of these desalination water schemes.
The second of the four way strategy of South Australian government is for meeting the demand even in the worst of draughts. Maintaining level three restrictions in water use. South Australia in recent years saved more than 64 billion litres of water. Besides the restrictions, permanent water conservation measures are also helping the dry state cut down consumption by more than 8500 ML compared to five year-average. Half of South Australian homes have rainwater tanks and more tanks are being installed everyday. The major industries are implementing water efficiency plans for better water use. Water allocated to irrigators is monitored to encourage efficient irrigation practices.
Bangladeshi homes in urban areas as well as villages can be provided with rainwater tanks to collect rain water for rational and optimum use of WASA or municipal water supply. The major industries need to optimise water use and water use for irrigation must also be monitored to minimise misuse.
To secure water future for South Australia, it 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, flushing toilets and watering gardens. Under the water utilisation strategy, a range of storm water and waste water projects are underway to increase the use by nearly 49 per cent. Increased recycling will provide more water to agriculture, community parks and gardens and reduce flow of nutrient discharge into sea water where it can harm delicate marine environment. The water recycling, the third of the four-way strategy, is a usually done by a series of treatment .Reverse osmosis is the most advanced process.
By setting up waste water recycled plants in major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet and towns like Comilla and Mymensingh, Bangladesh can use recycled water in power plants, and industries to considerably save fresh water supply. Recycled water can save rivers and water ways from pollution caused by the discharge of waste water. Bangladesh can collect details of the system from South Australia and Queensland.
For the last of the four-way strategy, South Australia gets water from a number of sources. But much of the state is dependent on the River Murray for the supply. On an average, Adelaide gets about half of its needs from the Mt Lofty Ranges. Its reservoirs can hold 12 months' supply. South Australia is endeavouring to secure its water supply by improving the rivers' and their catchments, increasing storage capacity and managing groundwater reserves across the state. South Australia has secured significant investment for the Murray Future project to meet the needs of the River Murray communities and improve the water flow of the Murray.
The major rivers of Bangladesh and then tributaries are dying or are, already dead as neighbouring India has been withdrawing water from the upstream. Bangladesh must take up the issue of sharing waters of common rivers with India seriously. If bilateral negotiations do not bring results, the issue must be takeup at regional and international forums.
Bangladesh also needs to dredge all its rivers to increase storage and keep them navigable. In the hilly areas, Bangladesh must set up catchments to retain rainwater. Bangladesh can learn from Australia how to better utilise the inland waterways.
In not too distant future, water will be an acute crisis unless steps are taken right from now.
A Bangladesh energy professional, the writer works in Australia,
and can be
reached at
[email protected]
In Australia, the driest continent, South Australia is the driest state. Recently South Australia took plans to solve its potable water supply challenges. Bangladesh 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 became polluted and unsuitable for drinking. Even treatment in traditional manner does not make the water fit for drinking.
Excessive subsurface water use has drastically lowered the water table, making the country vulnerable to quakes. The Australian experience could be useful for Bangladesh. The policy makers in Bangladesh could replicate it.
Most of the inland of the huge Australian continent is desert or under forest coverage. People usually live in the coastal areas. Only 22 million people live in Australia which is almost 20 times the size of Bangladesh. Major cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwins and Cairns. The river Murray, the major source of water for irrigation runs through several Australian states. The Murray will continue to be important for Australia's water future.
All the states of Australia impose varying degrees of restrictions on water use in summers to ensure rational use. From November 2006 to September 2008, the author worked in Queensland in Western Corridor Recycled Water Project for implementing a part of a huge recycled water scheme for the Queensland government. The project has just been awarded the work for laying the desalinated water pipeline in Adelaide, South Australia. The South Australian project is planning to meet the challenges of water supply in the driest state of the driest continent.
South Australians are working to ensure optimum water use. In the wake of the harshest draught in its history, the South Australian government has taken a four-way strategy to secure water for the future. The strategy should be useful for Bangladesh.
The four-way strategy involves desalination, recycling waste water and capturing storm water, as well as increasing water storage capacity, protecting water catchments and managing water use. South Australia has successfully lobbied with the Australian federal government for an independent authority to better manage the Murray-Darling basin. It also secured funding for the Murray Future Programme to help the River Murray communities and improve the river environment.
By setting up desalination plants at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Mongla, Bangladesh can secure water future of the respective areas. Recycling water schemes can be replicated for Dhaka and other major cities of Bangladesh. Extensive dredging and freeing major rivers of encroachment around Dhaka and other areas could possibly restore their storage capacity. An independent authority could be set up to better manage the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna basins like the Murray-Darling. Bangladesh can secure a fund to manage the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna future like the case with the Murray future. As almost all the rivers of Bangladesh originate in India and Nepal, it has to negotiate to secure its riparian rights with India to make the rivers flowing with water in Bangladesh again. Bangladesh water experts ought to learn from water system management in the Australian states.
The Bay of Bengal can be a guaranteed source of water supply for many areas of Bangladesh for eternity. Let us see how desalination system works. Much of the pressure on surface water can be eased by desalination of sea water to supply to habitations. Under its four-way strategy, South Australia is building a desalination plant at Port Stanvac to meet about 25 per cent of South Australia's water needs. Carbon neutral from the project will help secure water supply for Adelaide for years to come.
For a start Chittagong can have the first desalination plant. A desalination plant removes dissolved salts and impurities from sea water to make it fit for drinking. Australia has been using desalination technology for about 20 years to treat salty ground and sea water. Revers Osmosis, the most common technology in use in Australia, uses high pressure to force sea water through a membrane, which acts like a fine strainer to remove salt and other impurities. The water is then treated to meet drinking water guidelines before supplying to the urban centres. Brine, the by-product is piped offshore into the sea. For high demand world wide desalination plants made of stainless steel, membranes and high pressure pumps is expensive. Bangladesh can approach development partners for financial assistance to set up at least one plant. It can encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to be equity partners for setting up a plant in the private sector.
Desalination plants can provide quality drinking water even when it does not rain. It is a climate independent water source. It can be an alternative source of water supply, reducing reliance on river as well as subsurface tube well water.
Western Australia set up the Perth Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant in 2006. It supplies about 45 gigalitres of water annually, which is about 17 per cent of Perth's fresh water supply system, run by renewable energy from Emu Downs Wind Farm. Queensland is currently building an Aus$1.0 billion plant at Tugun on the Gold Coast, which will supply 46 gigalitre of water every year beginning end of this month. Victoria is building a 150 gigalitre plant at Gippsland to be interconnected with pipe line. To cost Aus$3.1 billion, the project is expected to be on stream by 2015. 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 government to know the details of these desalination water schemes.
The second of the four way strategy of South Australian government is for meeting the demand even in the worst of draughts. Maintaining level three restrictions in water use. South Australia in recent years saved more than 64 billion litres of water. Besides the restrictions, permanent water conservation measures are also helping the dry state cut down consumption by more than 8500 ML compared to five year-average. Half of South Australian homes have rainwater tanks and more tanks are being installed everyday. The major industries are implementing water efficiency plans for better water use. Water allocated to irrigators is monitored to encourage efficient irrigation practices.
Bangladeshi homes in urban areas as well as villages can be provided with rainwater tanks to collect rain water for rational and optimum use of WASA or municipal water supply. The major industries need to optimise water use and water use for irrigation must also be monitored to minimise misuse.
To secure water future for South Australia, it 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, flushing toilets and watering gardens. Under the water utilisation strategy, a range of storm water and waste water projects are underway to increase the use by nearly 49 per cent. Increased recycling will provide more water to agriculture, community parks and gardens and reduce flow of nutrient discharge into sea water where it can harm delicate marine environment. The water recycling, the third of the four-way strategy, is a usually done by a series of treatment .Reverse osmosis is the most advanced process.
By setting up waste water recycled plants in major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet and towns like Comilla and Mymensingh, Bangladesh can use recycled water in power plants, and industries to considerably save fresh water supply. Recycled water can save rivers and water ways from pollution caused by the discharge of waste water. Bangladesh can collect details of the system from South Australia and Queensland.
For the last of the four-way strategy, South Australia gets water from a number of sources. But much of the state is dependent on the River Murray for the supply. On an average, Adelaide gets about half of its needs from the Mt Lofty Ranges. Its reservoirs can hold 12 months' supply. South Australia is endeavouring to secure its water supply by improving the rivers' and their catchments, increasing storage capacity and managing groundwater reserves across the state. South Australia has secured significant investment for the Murray Future project to meet the needs of the River Murray communities and improve the water flow of the Murray.
The major rivers of Bangladesh and then tributaries are dying or are, already dead as neighbouring India has been withdrawing water from the upstream. Bangladesh must take up the issue of sharing waters of common rivers with India seriously. If bilateral negotiations do not bring results, the issue must be takeup at regional and international forums.
Bangladesh also needs to dredge all its rivers to increase storage and keep them navigable. In the hilly areas, Bangladesh must set up catchments to retain rainwater. Bangladesh can learn from Australia how to better utilise the inland waterways.
In not too distant future, water will be an acute crisis unless steps are taken right from now.
A Bangladesh energy professional, the writer works in Australia,
and can be
reached at
[email protected]