Fourth Water Supply Project


Location

Greater Dhaka

 

Type of Project

Water Resource Management

 

Period of Study

September, 1997 to June, 1998

 

Client

WSP International, UK


Simulated Potential Head of Lower Aquifer of Greater Dhaka: Jan’97


Description

The World Bank funded Fourth Dhaka Water Supply Project (of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority) started implementation of a Water Resources Management Programme for the Greater Dhaka in 1997. WSP International UK, the Consultant of the project, subcontracted SWMC to carry out mathematical modelling studies to evaluate the water resources availability (quantity, quality and location) in and around the Greater Dhaka and to predict the responses under various future development and management scenarios.

SWMC was involved with the study in three components: surface water quantity and quality modelling, groundwater modelling and development of a Management Information System (MIS) for DWASA. Surface water modelling involved field data acquisition, water quality data monitoring, estimation of pollutant loadings, and development and application of a water quantity and quality model. Groundwater modelling involved secondary data collection from different sources and development and application of a groundwater model for Greater Dhaka. SWMC, in collaboration with DHI, Denmark, developed a groundwater model for an area of 670 km2. The model was calibrated for the period 1991-97.

The surface and groundwater models were coarse in nature. However, the study demonstrated that development of a Conjunctive Water Management Plan of surface and groundwater might be the only long–term sustainable solution to meet the increasing demand of supply water in the Greater Dhaka.