IN CONVERSATION WITH
and seasonal variations in water availability.
Bangladesh, being a riverine country, is blessed with abundant natural water resources but faces challenges due to its disaster-prone nature and high population density. Uttam Saha Bangladesh country manager, WSUP
The DPHE is the primary government agency responsible for planning, implementing, and managing water supply and sanitation projects across Bangladesh, with a focus on rural and peri-urban areas. DPHE has been at the forefront of addressing arsenic contamination in groundwater. The agency tests water sources, installs arsenic removal technologies, and promotes alternative safe water sources. It also establishing and maintain water treatment plants (WTPs) to ensure the provision of safe drinking water, in urban and peri-urban areas. It collaborates with research institutions and international organisations to develop its R&D and implement water management solutions. DPHE also constructs and promotes the use of improved sanitation facilities, such as hygienic latrines, to reduce open defecation and improve public health. It conducts awareness campaigns and educational programmes on the importance of handwashing, personal hygiene, and sanitation practices. In addition, DPHE also collaborates with other agencies to construct and maintain embankments, sluices, and flood control structures. It implements early warning systems, emergency water supply measures, and disaster response plans to ensure water supply during floods and other emergencies. As such, DPHE has adopted a holistic approach to managing water resources, integrating the needs of agriculture, industry, and domestic use with an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and capacity building, DPHE leverages the strengths of both public and private sectors to enhance water
infrastructure development and management, as well as enhances the technical and managerial capacities of local stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and maintenance of water infrastructure projects. What is WSUP, and how does it tailor its approach in Bangladesh compared to its six other locations like in Madagascar, Zambia, and the UK? Uttam Saha: WSUP is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income urban communities by improving access to essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Established in 2005 and secretariat in UK, WSUP operates across several countries in Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh, Madagascar, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, and Mozambique. Our mission is to support the world’s poorest urban communities to achieve equitable and sustainable WASH services. We focus on urban low-income populations, as they are most affected by rapid urbanisation and unplanned city development. To address these challenges, WSUP collaborates with local governments, utilities, businesses, and communities to design and implement innovative, sustainable solutions that are tailored to each unique context. Our approach encompasses technical assistance, capacity building, policy advocacy, and direct implementation.
Bangladesh, being a riverine country, is blessed with abundant natural water resources but faces unique challenges compared to the other six locations due to its disaster-prone nature and high population density. Frequent floods and cyclones disrupt water supply and sanitation services, exacerbating contamination and causing infrastructure damage. Additionally, issues such as salinity, arsenic contamination, agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, and inadequate waste management further degrade water quality. However, there are also similarities in the challenges faced by urban low-income communities across different countries. WSUP tailors its approach to consider the local context in all programme design and implementation. In Bangladesh, for instance, the prevalence of space constraints in urban low-income settlements necessitates innovative solutions like community-managed toilets and decentralised water supply systems. Bangladesh is also highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including flooding and cyclones, so WSUP prioritises building climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure that is robust and adaptable to extreme weather conditions. In Bangladesh, we work closely with local governments, utilities, private sectors, and community-based organisations to ensure that solutions are sustainable and culturally appropriate. This collaborative approach helps to foster local ownership and ensure the long-term success of our interventions.
Water & Wastewater Asia | September-October 2024 19
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