Monwar Ali
Additional Chief Engineer (Planning)
of DPHE re-iterated his wisdom looking by observing a very effective and
successful workshop where the water supply in charges of different municipalities
delivered and shared their experiences for their performance improvement towards
enhanced water supply services. He added that he will extend his support in
this regard and wish success of the network and thanked to all specially to
WSP-WB for arranging this workshop and invited himself.
REPORT
REGENERATION
WORKSHP FOR URBAN WATER UTILITY NETWORKING
AT SRIMANGAL,
MOULVIBAZAR DURING 2-4 APRIL, 2014
ZAKIR HOSSAIN
ABDUL MOTALEB
1.0 Background
About one third of total 316 municipalities have with pipe water
supply system. 3 (three) Water Supply and Sewerage Authorities are engaged in 3
City Corporations while another 3 City Corporations are having their own water
supply systems. The overall service level of the urban water utilities is
improving but below the expectation. The pipe water supply covers only about
20% to 50% of the populations in different towns. The urban water supply has
been put under serious threat in many towns due to high rate of migration
specially the poor people in the urban towns from rural, arsenic contamination,
lowering of water table, high salinity in the ground water and potential impact
of climate change. The overall performance of the many water utilities is
considered poor in terms of service level, coverage, quality and reliability.
As an effective tool for performance improvement, benchmarking and performance
improvement program (PIP) was initiated in 11 towns that included 2 (two) Water
Supply and Sewerage Authorities (WASA), 1 (one) City Corporation and 8 (eight) municipalities
in Bangladesh in 2005-06 under the WSP-SA program. Subsequently the initiative
has been extended to 38 (thirty eight) municipalities / towns.
Following successful introduction of Benchmarking and (PIP) a
National Dissemination Workshop was held in May, 2008. One of the recommendations of the workshop
was to establish a Water Utility Network to achieve sustainability of
Benchmarking and PIP initiatives as performance improvement tools in
Bangladesh. Accordingly, a framework of Urban
Water Utilities Network for performance improvements being developed by a team
representing municipalities / water utilities, WaterAid Bangladesh (WAB) and
Bangladesh Municipal Development Fund (BMDF). In another workshop that held in March 2009 at
World Bank Dhaka Office where the framework on Urban Water Utilities Network
was finalized and six Mayors (Chandpur, Shatkhira, Chuadanga, Manikganj,
Chapai-nawabganj, Gazipur municipality) and representatives of Bagerhat,
Jessore, Moulvibazar and Narsingdi pourashava signed the framework. It was agreed that the utility networking
members will rotate the responsibilities for coordinating the activities among
themselves in rotation for a period of six months. The first exchange visit and
networking meeting was held in Manikganj on 30 April 2009 to share the good
practices and contribute for their own performance improvement with WSP-SA
support. Since then a total of 10 (ten) networking events were organized in 10
(ten) different towns (Manikganj, Lakshmipur, Satkhira, Chandpur, Meherpur,
Sylhet, Rangpur, Mongla, Gazipur and Rangamati).
The 33 (thirty three) urban water utility network members
already gain lot of experiences and learned good practices through different
exchange visits and networking meetings. They adopted some of these good
practices along with experiences in their utilities and enhanced the utility’s
performance on water supply service delivery. It requires reviewing what they
earned and the outcomes through urban water utility networking for planning
next course of action. In addition, more 10 (ten) municipality applied to
become a member of the network and the urban water utility network is going to
cross its five years period since its beginning. Besides, sanitation becomes a
huge challenge for the urban areas needs to more attention by the municipality.
In addition, it’s requires to review the frame work of the urban water utility
network which is the guiding principle of the network.
Based on these, a regeneration workshop for urban water
utility networking was held during the period from 2-4 April, 2014 at Grand
Sultan Tea Resort, Srimangal, Moulvibazar.
2.0 Objectives:
The objectives of the workshop were:
·
Learning
from Turned around program of Dhaka WASA;
·
Follow
up of the last urban water utility networking workshop;
·
Review
the status of benchmarking report of the FY 2012-13, performance improvement
plan and benchmarking & PIP team formation status;
·
Review
and discuss the basis for how the volume of water measured (in absence of water
meter) and other related benchmarking data;
·
Review
the outcomes of urban water utility network;
·
Review
the framework of urban water utility network and possibility for
-
further
inclusion of new network member;
-
inclusion
of other special areas (e.g. sanitation)
-
etc.
3.0 Participants Attended:
Water supply in-charges / representatives from Amtoli,
Barguna, Bagerhat, Bheramara, Bhariab, Bhola, Brahmanbaria, Chapainawabganj,
Chowmuhuni, Chandpur,Cox’s Bazar,
Dinajpur, Faridpur, Gazipur City Corporation, Gopalganj, Haziganj,
Jessore, Jamalpur, Jhalokathi, Keshabpur, Lakshmipur, Laksham, Lalmonirhat, Manikganj,
Meherpur, Moulvibazar, Narsigndi, Nilphamari,
Noapara, Narail, Natore, Patuakhali, Rajbari, Rangpur City Corporation, Sherpur,
Shariatpur, Sathkhira, Singra and Sirajganj municipality and Executive Engineer
from DPHE Moulvibazar Division attended the workshop. The Managing Director of
Dhaka WASA attended as resource person and inaugurated the workshop. In
addition, the Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) of Department Public Health
Engineering (DPHE) attended as resource person and chaired the concluding
session of the workshop. Water supply in charges of Chuadanga, Kushtia, Munshiganj,
Rangamati and Mongla Port Pourashava could not attend. (Attended participants
lists shown in Annex-2).
1st day (2 April, 2014)
4.0 Discussion on the Agenda:
At 5.00 P.M. after reaching Srimangal on 2 April, 2014, the
participants took part in a discussion to set and finalize the agenda with the
following revision keeping in mind that the session to be ended by 5.00 P.M. on
4 April, 2014: (a) the session would be started at 8:00 A.M. that to be
continued up to 5:00 P.M .on 4 April, 2014 (b) lunch time reduced to half an
hour.
5.0 Introductory Session followed Presentation on “Turned around Program of
Dhaka WASA”
Mr. Abdul Motaleb, Sr. Water and Sanitation Specialist, WSP
of the World Bank welcomed all the participants and invited the participants to
present themselves. After self-introduction, he presented a brief outline on
Institutionalizing Benchmarking and Performance Improvement in Bangladesh as
under:
·
WSP-WB
initiated the benchmarking exercise in 11 utilities in 2006-07, now expanded to
44 utilities in different sizes of towns / utilities of WASAs, city
corporations and municipalities;
·
Since
2010, Benchmarking data collection, cleaning and posting in IB-NET continued,
Data Book published, demand in taking benchmarking exercise increased, trainings
on Benchmarking & PIP held, different national and international workshops
held and disseminated video documentations and prepared Bangladesh Urban
Development Assistance map;
·
A
focal person in the Local Government Division of the MoLGDR&C and a
steering committee at Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) for
Benchmarking & PIP formed;
·
In
2009, Urban Water Utility Network (UWUN) established to promote greater
participation in Benchmarking and PIP among small and medium sized water
utilities of municipalities initially with 8 members or municipalities now more
than 35 municipalities;
·
Dhaka
WASA showing way for large WASAs and city corporations on improving performance
through Turn around Program and Chittagong WASA started Go-ahead reform
program;
·
Consumer
level survey in different towns have done to get demand side data of consumers and
to know the services at poor community level;
·
Dissemination
of consumer level survey findings to the town level coordination committees for
improved citizen participation in planning and performance standard setting
processes;
·
Municipal
Water Sector Note - A recent product based on Benchmarking and PIP is on the
way to publication; and
·
Showed
two story – Salim’s and Rasida’s- how revenue earned and went away to meet the
water supply services and the utility’s roles.
Finally he presented a video on INCLUSIVE Water and
Sanitation Service - a success of Dhaka WASA following Benchmarking and PIP.
Thereafter, Mr. Abdul Motaleb introduced Engr. Taqsem A.
Khan, Managing Director of Dhaka WASA as fascinating leader and one of best
introducer of Benchmarking and PIP initiatives in Dhaka WASA and invited him to
present the “Turned around program of Dhaka WASA” based on Benchmarking and
leadership.
Engr. Taqsem A. Khan, the Managing Director of Dhaka WASA
presented “Turned around program of Dhaka WASA” In a brief, he narrated Dhaka
WASA as under:
·
Dhaka WASA, an autonomous body, started its journey
in 1963 with the mandate: supply of water; disposal of sewage (wastewater) and storm
water drainage and reorganized as corporate management under WASA Act in ’1996;
·
Dhaka city now covers an area of about 350 square kilometer
with the evolution from
Pakistan period: 50 sq. km, British period: 22 sq. km and in Mughal period: 10 sq. km;
·
Dhaka WASA covers its services in Dhaka & Narayangonj
city around population of 12.5 million that is around 93% population under
water supply coverage network; and
·
Currently
Dhaka WASA produces more than its demand of 2250 million liter water per day
and have water distribution network 3056 km, 659 number deep tube well, 4
number surface water treatment plants, 316062 water supply connections, 1643 public
stand posts.
The Managing Director of Dhaka WASA briefed that Turn-Around program was taken based on Dhaka WASA Act 1996, large investment and
shifting underground water source to surface water source in order to make
Dhaka WASA profitable and sustainable organization. He meant the Turn-Around as institutional reform for capacity building, transparency,
accountability & chain of command, mind setup change, cost effective management and customer service excellence.
Engr. Taqsem A. Khan cited that the Turn-Around program has taken in 1996
but delayed and mentioned that practically it started about 4 years before. He
also briefed that Turn-Around program initiated in management and financial systems, revenue management
and in O & M activities covering all WASA people, WASA customers and WASA vendors.
The Managing Director of Dhaka WASA pointed out some challenges of Turn-Around
program that included traditional mind setup, bureaucracy, corruption, trade union
and some of vested group interest. Despite challenges, lot of achievements of Turn-Around program already gained in increase of water production,
reduction of NRW, installation of sophisticated call center “WASA Link-16162”,
improvement of operating ratio, on-line billing system, improvement of billing
& collection, improvement of chain of command, CBA- management improved relationship,
paperless bill payment, optimization of workforce, networking home & abroad
and capacity enhancement of WASA people those turned towards sustainability of
Dhaka WASA.
He mentioned that the role of
Benchmarking in this regard was salient as Benchmarking is a point of reference
by which something can be measured, seeks to identify standards, or "best
practices," to apply in measuring and improving performance. He added that
Dhaka WASA has taken up the Benchmarking and PIP in 2006 that supported by
WSP-WB. Dhaka WASA has been continuing PIP implementation based on Benchmarking
to improve their performance in service delivery, he also added. The Managing
Director further added that Dhaka WASA took up major areas of Benchmarking for
assessment and those were Non Revenue Water, bills sent out, revenue collection,
debt age / receivable, manpower and operating ratio. He added that the achievement
of Benchmarking through Turn-Around program as under:
SL
|
Subject Area
|
Performance of 2008
|
World Bank
Benchmark Standard
|
Achievement of Dhaka WASA by the end of 2013
|
1
|
NRW (Non-Revenue Water) (%)
|
40.38
|
25.00
|
26.66
|
2
|
Bills Sent Out
(%)
|
93.00
|
99.50
|
99.00
|
3
|
Revenue Collection (%)
|
64.50
|
95.00
|
95.00
|
4
|
Debt Age / Receivable (months)
|
14.58
|
3.00
|
5.46
|
5
|
Manpower /1000 connection (number)
|
16.20
|
12.00
|
9.16
|
6
|
Operating Ratio
|
0.90
|
0.65
|
0.66
|
Finally the Managing Director of Dhaka WASA extended his
support to any of the municipality if they look for their performance
improvement through Benchmarking / skilled development. In this regard, he
added that Dhaka WASA has very well equipped training center with modern
facilities and have training calendar round the year for skilled development
from motor pump driver to the professionals. He concluded his session with
formal inauguration of the two day workshop. Though already it was 10.00 P.M.,
however he asked for any query, questions / clarifications in his presentation.
Though it was 10.00 P.M. despite the participants asked lot
of questions/queries and the Managing Director of Dhaka WASA explained all of
them. The participants were very proud to have an excellent presentation and
lauded the leadership role of the Managing Director of Dhaka WASA to attain the
achievement of Turned around program. Thus the session of the 1st
day ended at 10:45 P.M.
2nd day (3 April, 2014)
6.0. Follow
up of last network workshop:
Mr.
Md. Rezaul Karim, Assistant Engineer (Water Supply), Sherpur Pourashava and
current coordinator of the network reviewed the last report on 10th
urban water utility networking workshop. After review, Mr. Md. Rezaul Karim
asked participants for comments if any. As there was no comment, the report on 10th
urban water utility networking workshop and exchange visit was confirmed.
7.0 Review the Status
of Benchmarking Report of FY 2012-13, Performance Improvement Planning (PIP)
& Team Formation (TF):
Mr. Zakir Hossain of WSP-World Bank facilitated to review the
status of FY 2012-13 Benchmarking report & PIP & team formation and had
the following (√ indicated- the utility submitted report and ? indicated
as yet to submit) with the participant’s views / comments:
Sl No
|
Municipality
|
Benchmarking Report
(BM)
|
Performance
Improvement Planning (PIP)
|
Team Formation (TF)
|
Remarks
|
1
|
Amtoli
|
√
|
Not
applicable (N/A) this fiscal year (F/Y)
|
Submit TF to WSP-WB by 30 April, 2014
|
|
2
|
Barguna
|
√
|
N/A this
F/Y
|
||
3
|
Bagerhat
|
√
|
?
|
?
|
|
4
|
Bheramara
|
New network member, need training on BM & PIP
|
|||
5
|
Bhairab
|
New member
|
|||
6
|
Brahmanbaria
|
√
|
?
|
?
|
Submit PIP & TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
7
|
Bhola
|
√
|
?
|
?
|
Submit PIP & TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
Sl No
|
Municipality
|
Benchmarking Report
(BM)
|
PIP
|
TF
|
Remarks
|
8
|
Chapai-Nawabganj
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
9
|
Chuadanga
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
10
|
Chandpur
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
11
|
Choumuhuni
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Submit BM, PIP & TF by 30 April to WSP-WB
|
12
|
Cox’s Bazar
|
New member, need training on BM & PIP
|
|||
13
|
Dinajpur
|
New member
|
|||
14
|
Faridpur
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
15
|
Gazipur CC
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
16
|
Gopalganj
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
17
|
Hajiganj
|
√
|
?
|
?
|
Submit PIP & TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
18
|
Jessore
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
19
|
Jamalpur
|
√
|
?
|
?
|
Submit PIP & TF by 30 May, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
20
|
Jhalokathi
|
√
|
N/A
|
?
|
Submit TF by 30 May, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
21
|
Keshabpur
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
N/A
|
22
|
Kushtia
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
23
|
Lakshmipur
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
24
|
Laksham
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
25
|
Lalmonirhat
|
√
|
√
|
?
|
Submit TF by 30 May, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
26
|
Manikganj
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
27
|
Meherpur
|
?
|
?
|
√
|
Submit BM & PIP by 30 April to WSP-WB
|
28
|
Mongla Port Pourashava
|
√
|
N/A
|
?
|
Absent
|
29
|
Moulvibazar
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Submit BM & PIP by 30 April to WSP-WB
|
30
|
Munshiganj
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
Sl No
|
Municipality
|
Benchmarking Report
(BM)
|
PIP
|
TF
|
Remarks
|
31
|
Narsigndi
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
32
|
Nilphamari
|
?
|
N/A
|
?
|
Submit
BM & TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
33
|
Noapara
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
34
|
Narail
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
35
|
Natore
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
36
|
Patuakhali
|
?
|
N/A
|
?
|
Submit
BM & TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
37
|
Rajbari
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
38
|
Rangpur CC
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
39
|
Rangamati
|
√
|
N/A
|
?
|
Absent
|
40
|
Shariatpur
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
41
|
Satkhira
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
42
|
Sherpur
|
√
|
√
|
√
|
|
43
|
Singra
|
√
|
N/A
|
?
|
Submit TF by 30 April, 2014 to WSP-WB
|
44
|
Sirajganj
|
New member, need training on BM & PIP
|
The (?) marked municipality will submit the benchmarking report, PIP
and copy of team formation (TF) to WSP-WB by 30 April, 2014. Following 2 years
completion of benchmarking exercises, the utilities will then submit PIP along
with their 3rd year benchmarking reports. A team formation / updated
formation copy to be sent to WSP-WB by 30 April, 2014.
8.0 Review the
basis for how the volume of water measured (production / sold) in absence of
water meter, total population of the Pourashava and access to water supply
including the number of poor people access to water supply.
Mr. Zakir Hossain of WSP-World Bank presented a sample
of excel sheets how the volume of water would be measured (production / sold)
in absence of water meter, total population of the municipality and access to
water supply including the number of poor people access to water supply would
be considered. After threadbare discussions, the following sample format was
settled as a generic form to generate the above in filling up Benchmarking
data. However, special ways to be
considered for special cases, but would have a rationale for calculation.
Population
Served by Water Supply (in thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
Year
|
No. of house connection as per
holding |
Av. No. of household
in a holding
|
Av. House
hold Size
|
Population
served - by house connection ('000') |
No. of
street hydrant / tap |
Av. no. of pop served
by each street tap |
Population served
by street tap ('000') |
Total popula-
tion
served ('000') |
|||||
2005
|
21690
|
2.51
|
6.49
|
353.33
|
1400
|
15
|
21.0
|
374.33
|
|||||
2011
|
30000
|
2.51
|
6.49
|
488.70
|
2580
|
15
|
38.7
|
527.40
|
|||||
2012
|
31485
|
2.51
|
6.49
|
512.89
|
2170
|
15
|
32.6
|
545.44
|
|||||
2013
|
33310
|
2.51
|
6.49
|
542.62
|
1980
|
15
|
29.7
|
572.32
|
|||||
Total Population
|
|||||||||||||
Year
|
Actual population
|
Growth rate %
|
Floating population %
|
Total population
|
|||||||||
1991
|
373.83
|
||||||||||||
1995
|
427.12
|
3.4
|
20.95%
|
516.61
|
|||||||||
Population and growth rate
can be considered from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Data
|
|||||||||||||
Number of Poor People access to water supply
|
|||||||||||||
Year
|
Number of street hydrant
|
Number of beneficiaries per
street hydrant
|
Total poor people access to
water supply
|
||||||||||
2012
|
150
|
100
|
15000
|
||||||||||
2013
|
100
|
120
|
12000
|
||||||||||
Total
Volume of Water Sold (in million cubic meter per year)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Year
|
No of HC
|
Av. consume (cubic meter / day/ HC)
|
No of conn to Indus /com
|
Av. consume (cubic meter
/day/IC
|
No of conn to Institutions
|
Av. consume
(cubic meter
/day/Ins)
|
Vol. of water sold in bulk (cubic meter / day)
|
Total Water Sold
|
||||||||||||
m3/day
|
MLD
|
Mm3
/year
|
||||||||||||||||||
2005
|
21690
|
0.87
|
3
|
5
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
18917
|
18.92
|
6.90
|
||||||||||
2011
|
30000
|
1.14
|
8
|
6
|
12
|
4.5
|
120
|
34422
|
34.42
|
12.56
|
||||||||||
2012
|
31485
|
1.14
|
9
|
6.5
|
13
|
5
|
500
|
36516
|
36.516
|
13.33
|
||||||||||
2013
|
33310
|
1.14
|
12
|
8
|
14
|
6
|
600
|
38753
|
38.753
|
14.14
|
||||||||||
Total
Volume of Water Produced (in million cubic meter per year)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Year
|
WS: Surface Water
|
Duration
of supply (hour
/day)
|
Production
from SW (m3/day) |
WS: Ground Water
|
Duration
of supply (hour
/day)
|
Production
from GW (m3
/day)
|
Total
Production |
|||||||||||||
No. of Pump
|
Capacity
of each pump (m3/ hour) |
No of
PTW |
Capacity
of each PTW (m3
/hour)
|
m3
/day
|
MLD
|
Mill m3
/year
|
||||||||||||||
2005
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
40
|
68
|
12
|
32640
|
32640
|
32.64
|
11.91
|
|||||||||
2011
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
70
|
66
|
12
|
55440
|
55440
|
55.44
|
20.24
|
|||||||||
2012
|
2
|
375
|
12
|
9000
|
68
|
65
|
12
|
53040
|
62040
|
62.04
|
22.64
|
|||||||||
2013
|
2
|
375
|
12
|
9000
|
69
|
64
|
12
|
52992
|
61992
|
61.99
|
22.63
|
|||||||||
9.0 Evaluation
& Review the Outcomes of Urban Water Utility Network by the Participants:
The
participants evaluated and reviewed the outcomes and sustainability of their urban
water utility network activities as under:
Sl No
|
Name of Pourashava
|
How long practicing
BM
(year)
|
How long PIP
(Yr)
|
How many times
attended in meetings
|
Sustainability of
the network
(Support needed
from)
|
Performance
improvement through networking
|
1
|
Bagerhat
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
LGED & DPHE
|
100% computerized bill;
Introduced water quality testing and water safety
plan
|
2
|
Bhola
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
Self- initiatives
|
|
3
|
Chapai-Nawabganj
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
Chandpur
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
LGED
|
Introduced water quality testing and family wise
tariff
|
5
|
Choumuhuni
|
3
|
2
|
6
|
Municipality, LGD and networking member
|
Computerized billing; Introduced water safety plan;
Introduced family wise billing and metering.
|
6
|
Faridpur
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
LGD
|
Developed self-skilled
|
7
|
Gazipur CC
|
6
|
5
|
10
|
LGD
|
Reduced NRW; increased coverage; introduced family
wise billing and increased revenue
|
8
|
Gopalganj
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
Municipality & LGD
|
Reduced pipe breaking, gate bulb conservation and
connection properly
|
9
|
Hajiganj
|
4
|
2
|
9
|
DPHE
|
100% computerized billing;
Introduced testing water quality
|
10
|
Jessore
|
6
|
5
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
Jamalpur
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
Contribution by the utility
|
Increased water production
|
12
|
Lakshmipur
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
LGD
|
Increase collection efficiency to 95% from 70%;
utility data posted to international website; prepared
BM & PIP by Water Super
|
13
|
Laksham
|
5
|
2
|
7
|
LGD
|
100% computerized billing; awareness built on NRW
|
14
|
Lalmonirhat
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
Contribution by the utility
|
Water supply in different times; decreased
non-revenue water; increased revenue by increasing tariff rate
|
15
|
Manikganj
|
7
|
6
|
9
|
Municipality
|
Installed water treatment plant; introduced family
wise billing system
|
16
|
Noapara
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
LGD
|
Introduced computerized billing system; decreased
NRW & increased collection efficiency
|
17
|
Natore
|
5
|
3
|
10
|
LGD
|
Developed self-skilled; no outstanding bill amount.
|
18
|
Rajbari
|
5
|
3
|
9
|
LGD
|
Identified
weak and strong aspects to improve performance
|
19
|
Rangpur CC
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
LGD
|
Decreased NRW and increased collection efficiency; introduced
computerized billing
|
20
|
Shariatpur
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
LGD
|
Reduced NRW; introduced water safety plan and computerized
billing.
|
21
|
Satkhira
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
LGD
|
Water service improvement by increasing network-
|
22
|
Sherpur
|
5
|
4
|
8
|
UWUN
|
Identified
weak and strong aspects to improve performance
|
The
brief of evaluation, networking sustainability and outcomes of the urban water
utility network as:
(i)
Almost all utilities practicing Benchmarking exercise but few of them are not
planning and implementing PIP that is vital and need to take up onwards with no
causes; (ii) Most of all participated in exchange visits / workshops and
meetings shared the good aspects among each other and tried to implement in
their respective municipalities for their performance improvement. The
participants gained knowledge through exchange visits shared with their
respective municipalities- the Mayors and others and even with the town level
coordination committee; (iii) Some of the municipality increased their revenue
(e.g. by adopting family wise water tariff rate ), decreased operating costs
and non-revenue water, increased water
production even by constructing treatment plant by own ( e.g. in Manikganj),
enhanced water quality by water testing and adopting water safety plan; (iv)
some of individuals (e.g. water supply in charges) increased their skilled in
different aspects; (v) increased collection efficiency by computerized billing
system; (vi) UWUN expected to be continued with their own support and support
from LGD, DPHE and LGED in absence of WSP-WB but expected WSP-WB to continue as
full scale support from LGD, DPHE and LGED yet not ascertained.
10.0 Review
the Framework of Urban Water Network:
The
framework of the urban water utility network was reviewed by the participants
and took the following decisions:
a.
The coordinator
of the urban water utility network will place a draft outline in the next
meeting / workshop on (i) what action to be taken for the utility who will not
submit benchmarking reports / PIP consecutively two times ; (ii) who will not
attend the workshops / exchange visits / meetings etc. consecutively two times;
(iii) if the coordinator will transfer to other places and that utility not
under the network; (iv) some sort of financial contribution modalities by the
network members themselves for sustainability of the network; and (v) whether
or what modalities on-site sanitation can be taken in the network.
b.
The news bulletin
will be of yearly rather than of half yearly bulletin from onwards.
11.0 Planning
for the Next:
The participants discussed among themselves and
developed the plan of action as below:
Sl. No
|
Steps
|
Actions
|
Remarks
|
1
|
Coordinating utility of
urban water utility network
|
The participants has
decided Sherpur municipality as the
coordinating municipality from April, 2014 to next six month
|
Assistant Engineer (Water
Supply) of Sherpur municipality to be continued as member secretary of the
network from April, 2014 to next six month.
|
2
|
Venue of next Urban Water
Utility Networking workshop / exchange visit
|
The most of the participants
opined for Patuakhali / Sherpur/ Cox’s bazar as next venue but to be decided
later considering effectively and suitability to meet the objectives of the
next workshop.
|
WSP-WB along with the
coordinator of the UWUN will look for.
|
3
|
Network bulletin
|
The 3rd network
bulletin will be prepared by October 2014.
|
The current coordinator of
the utility network will prepare the draft one with the support of Water
supply in charges of Dinajpur municipality and Gazipur CC by August next and
will forward to WSP-WB for editing and printing.
|
4
|
Network website
|
Assistant Engineer (Water
Supply), Dinajpur municipality will update the website (www.bwun.org) as per requirement.
|
WSP-WB will follow up for
training of 4 members and take measures to update the website by an expert
|
5
|
Area of support for skill
development for PWSS staff
|
As Dhaka WASA extended
support to provide training, the coordinator of the network will make three
groups along with areas for skill development.
Group 1: Water supply in
charges
Group 2: Accounting / bill
clerks
Group-3: Rest category of
PWSS
|
The coordinator will send
the list with area of training to the WSP-WB by June 15, 2014.
|
6
|
Inclusion of pourashava for
Urban Water Utility Network
|
As requested by the
pourashava and as per discussion among the network members, agreed to include
Amtoli, Barguna, Bheramara, Bhairab, Dinajpur, Jhalokathi, Nilphamari,
Patuakhali, Singra and Sirajganj in the network
|
A report of the workshop will be issued to the respective
municipality by the WSP-WB
|
7
|
Hands-on-training on
Benchmarking and PIP
|
It is identified that
Bheramara, Narsigndi, Cox’s bazar, Noakhali, Rangpur CC, Keshabpur,
Moulvibazar, Sirajganj, Narail and Meherpur municipality need training on
Benchmarking & PIP as some are new and in some cases the trained one is
transferred to other places.
|
WSP-WB will invite them for the training by May 15, 2014.
|
8
|
Presence of representatives
from LGD Ministry in the workshop
|
As the ministry people
engage in lot of areas to get difficulty in presence in such remote places workshop,
however will be tried to ensure their presence.
|
WSP-WB will follow up
|
9
|
Payment transport bill
through mileage to the participants attended
|
As the return ticket in
advance is difficult to get and to avoid hustle, to introduce payment through
mileage than of ticket submission.
|
WSP-WB will follow up
|
10
|
Award for who performing
best for Benchmarking & PIP and others
|
WSP-WB will follow up
|
|
11
|
A slot for expert session
on skilled development
|
WSP-WB will try to engage
|
12.0
Closing:
Mr.
Monwar Ali, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) of Department of Public Health
Engineering (DPHE) chaired the concluding session. He enquired about the
participants what the face in implementing and effective delivery in providing
water supply services. Many participants raised various problems. Among them
one of critical was to get the water testing kit that is really an important
one for safe water supply. The Additional Chief Engineer assured them that he will
try to involve in the project so that the municipality get the water testing
kit boxes. He provided one by one probable solutions and references for other
critical issues raised by the participants. The
Finally, Mr. Abdul Motaleb of WSP-SA expressed his
thanks to the participants and successful of the workshop. He appreciated Mr.
Monwar Ali, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) of DPHE for great support,
active participation and deliberations as key specialist in the water and
sanitation sector. Lastly, he wished safe journey back of all.