Chapter 31 - Challenges of sustainable groundwater development and management in Bangladesh: vision 2050

Abstract

Bangladesh is apparently very rich in water resources as a huge amount of surface water passes through it annually. However, there is very little scope for storing this surface water for using during the dry months. Hence the primary source to meet domestic, irrigation, and industrial demands is groundwater, occurring mostly at shallow depths (<100m). Currently, more than 95% of drinking water, 80% of surface water, and 98% of industrial water for textile and leather sectors are drawn from aquifers. Groundwater depletion in heavy abstraction areas; water-quality issues such as arsenic, salinity, and microbiological contaminations; and possible impacts of climate change are the major areas of concern regarding sustainability of supplies. Projections for 2030 and 2050 show manifold increases in water demands for all sectors. The increasing demand cannot be met with groundwater only, and alternative sources must be developed. Better governance of groundwater should be initiated to ensure the availability of water for future generations. Integrated management of this vital resource should include groundwater abstraction licensing, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, introduction of managed aquifer recharge, and protection of water quality. The existing monitoring system should be updated to identify any adverse changes in quantity or quality of water. Transboundary cooperation and capacity building at the key institutions should be undertaken along with carrying out research on aspects such as climate change impacts as well as harnessing nonconventional water resources.