Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, July 11, 2025 (BSS)- Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authority (RWASA) has taken initiatives to meet the demand of drinkable water for Rajshahi people through purifying water from the Padma river. 

RWASA has been implementing a project with financial and technical support from Chinese Hunan Construction Engineering Group Company Limited to implement a water management system which will be transparent and accountable to all stakeholders.

According to the sources concerned, the water treatment plant is being constructed in the Sarangpur area of Godagari Upazila, about 26 kilometers off the Rajshahi city. 20 percent of the works have already been completed.

Upon successful implementation of the project titled 'Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant', it will supply 20-crore litres of purified water every day.

RWASA Chief Engineer Parvej Mamud, who is also the director of the project, told BSS that treated water from the plant will be delivered to consumers' level through 26-kilometer main transmission and 48-kilometer primary and secondary pipelines.

Through an agreement signed between RWASA and the Department of Roads and Highway, installation of the 26-km transmission pipeline along the Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj highway is currently in progress.  

As a whole, the water treatment plant project aims to ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply for Rajshahi city and its surrounding areas by 2027.

This involves constructing a modern surface water treatment plant that will draw water from the Padma River and purify it for household consumption. 

The Taka 4,062-crore project is part of a larger 40-year water supply management plan to ensure access to safe and wholesome drinking water.

Engineer Parvej Mamud said the core objective is to provide clean, potable water to all residents of Rajshahi city and its neighboring municipalities.

The project aims to address the current water deficit and ensure adequate water supply to meet the needs of the growing population.

It will improve water quality by removing contaminants and harmful substances from the river water, making it safe for drinking apart from creating a sustainable and efficient water supply system for the long term. 

Engineer Mamud said the project has a provision of repairing and renovating the old pipelines and hydrants in the city besides establishing a water management system that is transparent and accountable to all stakeholders. 

He said daily water demand in the city is around 130 MLD at present and 98.037 MLD water is being extracted from underground through pumps, while 9 MLD from surface water, totalling 107.04 MLD to meet the demand.

Simultaneously, they are supplying 10.70 crore liters of water daily to over 6.44 lakh people through 110 production pumps and 859 kilometres pipeline network.

Quoting official data, RWASA Managing Director Rezaul Alam Sarker said there will be no water deficit in the city when the project is implemented successfully.

After meeting the water demands in the city, the RWASA will be able to supply drinkable water to the adjacent Nawhata and Katakhali municipalities. 

RWASA is always committed to maintain integrity in all its service delivery activities particularly water supply for betterment of the service recipients.

Rezaul Sarker said they are persistently working with the vision of establishing a sustainable water management system through ensuring transparency, accountability and participation of all stakeholders.

As a whole, the project, upon its successful implementation, will contribute a lot towards enhancing supply of surface water through decreasing the dependence on underground water.

Another project styled "Water Supply System Rehabilitation in Rajshahi City Project" is also being implemented aimed at improving the life standard of the people through supplying safe water in the interim period, he added.