Denmark is significantly aiding Bangladesh’s efforts to provide clean water to Dhaka’s growing population by financing €300 million for water infrastructure, marking one of the world’s largest projects in this sector.
The project, managed by Dhaka Wasa, involves expanding the surface water treatment facilities at the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant through Phase III. The Danish government, via Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF), is funding the design and construction of the plant.
This substantial investment, amounting to Danish Kroner 2,239 million (€300 million), is the largest water infrastructure financing project for DSIF. It addresses the urgent need to shift from groundwater to surface water sources due to groundwater depletion. Phases I and II of the project sourced water from the Shitalakhkha River, while Phase III will draw raw water from the Meghna River.
The Saidabad Water Treatment Plant is set to become one of the world’s largest water infrastructure projects, with an additional treatment capacity of 450,000 cubic meters per day. The project also includes a sludge treatment plant designed to handle the full capacity of all phases.
Upon completion of Phase III, an additional 3 million residents of Dhaka will receive treated surface water instead of groundwater, according to the Danish Embassy in Dhaka.
This initiative supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
