As the world marked Earth Day, large parts of Dhaka continued to struggle with acute water shortages and deteriorating water quality, underscoring the widening gap between environmental commitments and urban realities in Bangladesh’s fast-growing capital.
Despite a landmark High Court ruling recognizing access to safe drinking water as a fundamental right, many residents report irregular supply, unsafe water and growing dependence on alternative sources.
In a verdict delivered on February 27, 2025, the High Court declared safe drinking water a constitutional right under Article 32, linking it directly to the right to life. The full judgment, released on January 1 this year, also directed authorities to protect water sources, prevent pollution and ensure sustainable groundwater management.
However, residents say little has changed on the ground.
In Mirpur and several parts of South Dhaka, water scarcity has worsened in recent months. Areas including Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Kallyanpur, East Monipur and Pirerbag have reported prolonged supply disruptions, with some neighborhoods receiving water only briefly each day — or not at all.
“There is no consistent supply. Even when water comes, it is often dirty and foul-smelling,” said Khalidur Rahman, a resident of Matikata Bazar.
For many households, the shortages have disrupted basic needs such as drinking, cooking and bathing, forcing them to rely on bottled water or install private pumps. In some cases, landlords have begun rationing water among tenants.
Tahmina Akter, a student in East Monipur, said she has been relying on bottled water for the past two weeks due to irregular and contaminated supply.
Similar complaints have been reported from Shewrapara, Badda and other areas, where residents say water arrives on erratic schedules, often late at night.
Dhaka WASA Managing Director Mohammad Aminul Islam told Dhaka Tribune that authorities have issued directives to identify and resolve technical faults behind recent disruptions. He acknowledged that storm-related damage recently affected production in Mirpur, reducing output from a system that typically supplies around 15 crore liters per day.
“Repair work is ongoing, and production capacity is being restored,” he said.
He added that around 10 new deep tube wells have been installed to improve supply resilience, though their full impact will depend on operational readiness. Aminul Islam also emphasized that long-term water security will depend on infrastructure modernization and coordinated planning.
Dhaka WASA officials separately attribute the disruptions to a mix of technical faults, ongoing repairs at pumping stations, falling groundwater levels and rising temperatures. While the utility maintains there is no overall shortage, it acknowledges the existence of “pocket crises” across the city.
Dhaka’s daily water demand currently ranges between 290 and 305 crore liters, close to the estimated requirement of 310 crore liters. The system serves around 2.5 crore residents, with nearly 70 percent of supply still dependent on groundwater.
Experts warn that such dependence is increasingly unsustainable.
Dr Anika Yunus, professor at the Department of Water Resources Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, told Dhaka Tribune that Dhaka’s recurring water shortages reflect decades of overdependence on groundwater and lack of integrated planning.
“Sustainable urban water management requires reducing groundwater dependency and expanding surface water treatment capacity,” she said.
She noted that Dhaka once relied on groundwater for nearly 90 percent of its supply, but stressed that the long-term goal should be a balanced 50:50 ratio between groundwater and surface water.
She also emphasized the need for contingency planning during peak-demand months such as March and April.
Kazi Saidur Rahman of the Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) said groundwater levels in some areas are declining by 10 to 12 feet annually, with limited efforts to replenish reserves.
Rapid urbanization has further intensified the crisis. As open spaces shrink and surfaces become increasingly concreted, rainwater infiltration has declined, reducing natural groundwater recharge.
Urban planners and water experts say Dhaka must accelerate its transition toward surface water treatment, alongside rainwater harvesting, stricter regulation of extraction and modernization of distribution networks.
They caution that seasonal shortages, particularly during summer, could evolve into a persistent urban crisis without timely intervention.
The High Court ruling aligns with global recognition of water as a human right, including a 2010 United Nations resolution. However, experts say translating that recognition into effective service delivery remains a major challenge.
On Earth Day — dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable resource management — Dhaka’s situation highlights the urgent need to safeguard urban water systems.
Ensuring safe drinking water, experts note, is not only a constitutional obligation but also a critical test of environmental governance and long-term urban sustainability.