WASA, Chittagong

WASA, Chittagong a semi-government organisation named Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority was established on 16 October 1963 (EP Ordinance No XIX, 1963) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. This organisation was created home specific consideration of construction, improvement, expansion, operation and maintenance of necessary infrastructure for domestic, industrial and commercial purpose; construction, operation and maintenance of sewerage system and drainage facilities to discharge rain, flood and surface water and solid waste management dividing the port city's Public Heath Engineering Department.

Initially WASA, Chittagong used to supply 20.25 million litres of water per day from 25 deep tube-wells inherited from Public Health Engineering and City Corporation. First water supply project in Chittagong was taken under the financial support of World Bank under which 13 deep tube-wells were sunk in the first phase in Kalurghat area. An iron removal Plant and Booster Station was constructed to remove iron from the water of these tube-wells. Arrangement was made to supply 45 million litres of water per day from this plant. In view of the increasing demand the 2nd water supply project in Chittagong was under taken in 1981 with the financial assistance of World Bank which was completed in 1988. Under this project arrangement was made to supply 90 million litres of water per day taking water from Halda River and treating in Mohara Water Treatment Plant. Under this project the capacity of Kalurght Iron Removal plant was increased to 67.50 million litres per day with sinking of 5 more deep tube wells in Kalurghat area. At this stage the volume of water supply in the city area raised to 180 million litres per day.

Pipe water supply in Chittagong city started after 1892 when Chittagong became the head quarter of assam bengal railway Company. In 1929 a water treatment plant of 1.8 million litre per day capacity with a slow sand filter unit was constructed by the Railway authority using foy’s lake as the water source.

By installing some more deep tube-wells presently Chittagong WASA is supplying 240 million litres of water per day against a demand of 500 million liters per day of which 37% from surface water and 63% from underground water. Chittagong WASA has under taken the Karnafuli Water Supply Project, the Mohara Water Extension Project and the Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (CWSISP). After competition of these projects Chittagong WASA is expected to meet cent percent water demand in near future.

It may be mentioned that CWASA is progressing with a plan to produce 90% water from the surface sources to maintain ecological equilibrium. Chittagong WASA already signed an agreement with the World Bank to introduce a modern sewerage system in Chittagong city under CWSISP. [Md Moksedur Rahman]