WASA takes projects to collect 70pc water from surface source by 2020

The Dhaka WASA has undertaken three mega projects to collect 70 per cent water from the surface source by 2020, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said on Monday, reports BSS.
"Dhaka WASA is advancing towards producing water from surface source instead of underground aquifer for building an environment and consumer-friendly sustainable water supply management," he said replying to a question from treasury bench member Didarul Alam (Chittagong-4).
The LGRD minister said the three projects to collect 70 per cent water from the surface source are the "Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Project" for supplying 450 million litres of water per day, the "Gandharbpur Water Treatment Project" for distributing 500 million litres of water from the Meghna river and the "Sayedabad Water Treatment Project (Phase-3)" for supplying 450 million litres of additional water from the Megha river.
"If these projects are completed successfully, the dependence on surface water in the capital will be increased to 70 per cent," he added.
Responding to another question from the same lawmaker, the LGRD minister said the present government has fulfilled the total demand of water in the capital as Dhaka WASA is now producing surplus water.
"Dhaka WASA has earned capacity of producing a total of 2.42 billion litres of water in the capital, which is surplus of the total demand," he said. The LGRD minister said the demand for water in Dhaka city varies in different seasons. Responding to another query raised by the same lawmaker, Ashraful said after assuming office in 2009, the previous Awami League government had taken massive initiatives to solve water scarcity in the capital.