CHITTAGONG WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT AND SANITATION PROJECT IMPROVING WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES IN CHITTAGONG APPROVAL DATE: END DATE: TOTAL COMMITMENT: IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: BASIC INFORMATION June 23 March 31 $202.99 million Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority 2010 2020 OVERVIEW Chittagong is the second largest city of Bangladesh with a rapidly swelling population- currently estimated at 2.9 million and expected to reach 3.7 million by 2030. The Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (CWSISP) aims to improve water supply, sanitation and drainage services in Chittagong city. The project will also help strengthen institutional capacity of Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA). Currently, CWASA has about 75,000 active connections that provide direct treated piped water to households. 114 CHALLENGE TOWARDS THE The water supply situation has improved in Chittagong. Currently the city’s water production capacity is 90 percent of the FUTURE estimated demand but the pipe network needs to be updated. A small percentage of the city still uses tube wells. The A two-phase restructuring was carried underground water quality in the city is questionable, with high salt and iron levels, which poses health risks to the public. out to this project and the revised objective aims to increase access However, very little investment has been made into sanitation and storm water drainage since the late 1980s. The to safe water supply and improve Chittagong city lacks sanitation infrastructures: it is not connected to any form of sewerage system or effective storm CWASA’s institutional capacity and water drainage service. Hence, most of the population typically utilizes septic tanks and pour-flush sanitation systems. investment planning for sanitation Septic tank effluent disposal is generally sporadic and septic sludge not collected on a regular basis. It does not have and drainage in Chittagong city. Since sludge treatment facilities. Hence, both domestic and industrial waste are discharged to open water bodies creating then, several large works contracts environmental concerns. To initiate sewerage system and with a target of gradually bringing the entire city population have been initiated and a subsequent under modern sewerage system, CWASA has developed a comprehensive sanitation improvement strategy with the World restructuring extended the project Bank’s support and a master plan to bring the city under planned sanitation system. To implement the proposed sewerage period to allow to complete a water investments Program (2017-2065), an estimated cost of $1032.01 million will be required. treatment plant, the Sanitation and Drainage Improvement Strategy and Master Plan, network transmission and APPROACH distribution rehabilitation works, and key CWASA institutional strengthening To provide access to safe water to around 650,000 residents in the city, the project is helping construct a water treatment initiatives. Implementation of the plant in the Modunaghat area. It is also helps rehabilitate and extend the storage and distribution facilities, especially in recommendations of the utility the under-served areas. Furthermore, the project supports the updating of Chittagong’s sanitation and drainage master modernization plan is expected to plans, which will help identify priority investments in the city’s drainage and sewerage networks, and for initiatives aiming bring further improvements in utility to improve the city’s urban environment. The project also supports CWASA’s pilot expansion of water supply and sanitation capacity and management. services in selected Chittagong slums, bringing better services to the urban poor. Finally, CWSISP aims to support CWASA by improving the sustainability and accountability of operations, and improving coordination for water, sanitation and drainage services between key stakeholder agencies in Chittagong. EXPECTED RESULTS 650,000 people 89% of CWASA operational CWASA achieves $500 million worth of priority provided with access to costs are covered from direct utility maturity sanitation and drainage investments improved water sources water sales revenue level 3 identified, prepared and ready for financing THE WORLD BANK IN BANGLADESH | 115