2021-10-31-亚开行-穷人用水——达卡水务公司的转型挑战（英）_27页_7mb

Water for the Poor – Dhaka’s Water Utilities Turnaround Challenge Summary

This case study examines the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA)'s efforts to reform urban water services in Bangladesh, with a focus on including poor and slum areas. The Dhaka Water Supply Sector Development Program (DWSSDP) aimed to address a severe water crisis characterized by groundwater depletion, flooding, and inadequate sanitation, which disproportionately affected low-income communities.

Key Challenges:
DWASA faced issues such as financial unsustainability due to high non-revenue water (NRW), unreliable supply, exclusion of slums, and inefficient management. These problems were exacerbated by technical complexities, stakeholder resistance, and deeply ingrained social and political barriers, particularly in informal settlements.

Turnaround Strategy:
The DWSSDP, funded through a $212.7 million partnership with development agencies, incorporated performance-based funding, decentralization of local water utilities, and community involvement. Technical innovations included the district metered area (DMA) approach and trenchless technology, tested in the 2006 Manikdi pilot, which reduced NRW from 53% to 8% and improved access.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy:
Efforts were made to involve NGOs and community-based organizations to build trust and address resistance from residents, wealthier neighborhoods, and water mafias. DWASA's leadership, along with ADB's guidance, advocated for an inclusive approach to ensure financial and operational viability while tackling political and social opposition.

Policy Options and Lessons:
Three policy options were considered: prioritizing low-risk areas, engaging private sector participation, or conducting pilot projects in slums. The case underscores the need for inclusive designs to avoid long-term disparities and highlights lessons on stakeholder management and technical solutions applicable to other developing water utilities.

Overall, the program demonstrated that addressing water access for the poor requires collaborative reforms, innovative technologies, and strong stakeholder engagement to achieve sustainable urban water services.