Chattogram Wasa must reduce its system loss

We are deeply disappointed with the overall inefficiency of Chattogram Wasa, which has spent thousands of crores of taka over the past decade to improve its services, but with little success. Reports indicate that over the past decade, its system loss has doubled—from 15.24 percent in the 2013-14 fiscal year to 30 percent in the last fiscal year—resulting in substantial revenue losses. Currently, the agency is losing over Tk 100 crore annually due to systemic inefficiencies. This has directly impacted a large number of consumers, who, despite not receiving adequate water, are being billed for more than they actually use. This situation is completely unacceptable.

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System loss, or Non-Revenue Water (NRW), refers to water that is either lost or unaccounted for after production. According to Chattogram Wasa's annual report, it produced 176,511 million litres of water in 2023-24, of which 52,962 million litres were lost due to system loss. With an average tariff of Tk 19.37 per 1,000 litres, the agency lost over Tk 100 crore in potential revenue last year. This raises an important question: why is Chattogram Wasa's system loss so high compared to the much lower rates in the other three state-run water supply agencies? Reportedly, pipeline leaks, illegal connections, and metering errors are the primary causes of this inefficiency, with the manipulation of metering systems by unscrupulous Wasa staff further exacerbating the problem, according to experts and consumers.

Despite undertaking several major projects between 2011 and 2023—spending around Tk 6,336 crore on network expansion and pipeline replacement—Chattogram Wasa failed to take action against staff responsible for stealing water. As a result, Chattogram Wasa's water wastage has continued to rise, affecting nearly 90,000 consumers. Moreover, the minimum billing system has worsened the situation for consumers. For example, even if a household receives water only once a week, they are still required to pay around Tk 600 per month under this system. But why should consumers bear the burden of Wasa's inefficiencies?

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We urge Chattogram Wasa to address these pressing issues immediately. The agency must make genuine efforts to reduce system loss to an internationally accepted level of 15 percent. This requires decisive action against officials involved in water theft and metering manipulations. By reducing these losses, Wasa could significantly boost its revenue, ensuring that the people of Chattogram no longer endure such severe water shortages.