1. WSP Expert
May 2016

2. • A collective action to ensure socially-
sustainable utilization and effective
protection of groundwater resources for
the benefit of humankind and dependent
ecosystems.

3. 1. Legal and regulatory framework;
2. Accurate knowledge sharing;
3. Institutional Framework; and
4. Polices, Plans, finances aligned with
goals.

5. If the world’s total water are only 100 liters, our
usable fresh water would be only about 0.003 liter
Ocean Water
97.5%
Fresh
Water
2.50%
Ground
Water
29.9%
Ice Caps &
Glaciers
68.9%
1.2%
Lakes 0.3%
Soil
Moisture
0.9%
Biota 0.001%
River 0.001%
Atmospheric Water
Vapor 0.001%

6. Moderate …when 10-20% of the total GW
withdrawn;
Medium-High …when 20-40% of the total GW
withdrawn
High …when more than 40% of the total GW
withdrawn

7. Aquifers:
 an upper (shallow) or main aquifer up to about
150 m ( recharged almost fully, except Dhaka City
& Barind Area )
deep aquifers from 150 m to about 350 m
(recharge is problematic); and
A very deep aquifers extending below 350m to
about 1600m (very little is known)

8. Usable Recharge ( M m3)……………….54,100;
 Water Supply Demand ( M m3)…2,208 (8.8%);
 Environmental Demand ( M m3)……2,999 (11.9%);
 Agricultural Demand ( M m3)……19,993 ( 79.3%)
Note: Deep Aquifer water availability not well
understood – huge storage but little recharge

10. Lowest water levels depths measured in 2009 by
DPHE

11. • Groundwater level was within suction limit in late 80‘s when
irrigation was not significant;
•At present a large part of the country, STW and even Tara TW are not
working, in dry period;
•Water Level of Dhaka City declining 2-3 m/ year and water mining is
started in Mirpur area.
•Threats on salt/fresh water dynamics (Saline water intrusion)
Hence Groundwater Governance is very important to stop
over abstraction and protect the ecosystems

12. 1. National Water Policy-1999;
2. National Water Management Plan (NWMP-
2001);
3. Bangladesh Water Act 2013

13. The policies set forth herein are considered essential for
addressing the objectives of improved water resources
management and protection of the environment.
Every public agency, every community, village and each
individual has an important role to play in ensuring that
the water and associated natural resources of
Bangladesh are used judiciously so that the future
generations can be assured of at least the same, if not
better, availability and quality of those resources.

14. 1. River Basin Management: For better river water
management , communication and work together with
neighboring countries;
2. Planning and Management of Water Resources:
WARPO will prepare hydro-geological regions and prepare
NWMP;
3. Water Rights and Allocation: State is owner of water
rescuers and will allocate water based on regional need;
4. Water Supply and Sanitation: LGIs will be responsible to
protect water pollution and wastage, rainwater harvesting,
etc.
5. Water and Agriculture: Crops diversification, control of
pesticides, drinking water gets priority.

15.  Water Supply Demand ( M m3)…2,208 (8.8%);
 Environmental Demand ( M m3)……2,999 (11.9%);
Agricultural Demand ( M m3)……19,993 ( 79.3%)
Usable Recharge ( M m3)……………….54,100;
Present use (2010)
Agriculture ……………………86%;
Industry…………………………11%
 Domestic……………………..3%

16. •State is the owner of water within the state territory;
•right to potable water, and to water for hygiene and
sanitation shall be treated as the highest priority;
•No person or organization shall, without the permission of the
appropriate authority , stop natural flow of any water;
•No person or organization shall, without the permission of the
appropriate authority , store water of any water source in any
natural or artificial reservoir;
•Define Lowest Safe Yield ( keeps the aquifer safe and
protective)
•Punishment for giving false information;
•Declaration of water stress area and management;
•Provide clearance certificate when needed by appropriate
authority

17. •Bangladesh Water Act 2013 specifies that Water Resources
Planning Organization (WARPO) has the overall control of the
water resources.
•National Water Resources Council (the Prime Minister is
the Chairperson) is the highest decision making body related to
all water resources issues.
•Executive Committee (Minister, Ministry of Water Resources,
is the Chairperson) is responsible to implement Bangladesh
Water Act 2013 and works as per decisions of the Council.

18. Ministry Major Role Minor Role
Water resources WARPO, BWDB
LGRD &Cs DPHE, WASAs LGIs, LGED, RDA
Agriculture BADC, BMDA DAE
Environment and
Forest
DoE
Science & technology Bangladesh Atomic
Energy Commission
Energy & minerals Geological Survey of
Bangladesh ( GSB)

19. Groundwater monitoring is important to know:
Extend of groundwater flow systems;
Zone of recharge and recharge rate;
Groundwater flow direction;
Estimate volumes of recharge and discharge ;
Evaluate existing groundwater quality (Arsenic, salinity)
 Identify potential pollutants sources in the groundwater
Trend of Groundwater levels
saline water intrusion

20.  Monitoring wells to be installed in aquifers system and for
target aquifer;
 Wells installed in multiple aquifers will not give representative
data;
 If it is needed to use pumping well(s) for monitoring purpose,
it needs be selected carefully ( know exact lithology, well details,
stop pumping, etc.)

21. Related to groundwater status and development
• Promote sustainable development of groundwater resources;
•Provide data for determining the best locations for groundwater abstraction;
• Provide periodical information on the actual status of groundwater for management
Related to protection of groundwater systems and the
environment
•Provide data for protection of groundwater systems from over-exploitation;
• Provide data for protection of nature conservation areas from unacceptably declining
groundwater tables;
•Provide data for control of saline water intrusion or up-coning in aquifers;
•Provide data for control of land subsidence caused by groundwater abstraction;
• Provide data for protection of aquifers from contamination of diffuse sources of
pollution.
OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT IS TO GET SAFE YIELD and TO
MAINTAIN IT

22. Monitoring Objectives Observation
Well
Pumping Well
Levels Quality Levels Discharge Quality
GW System
characterization
XX X
GW Potential XX XX XX XX
Best Location of Well XX XX XX
Trend of over-exploitation XX X XX
Saline water Intrusion X XX (Cl) X XX XX(Cl)
Land Subsidence X XX
Aquifers Contamination XX XX
X= Desirable, XX= Necessary data , Quality= As, Mn, Fe, EC, Choride,

23. From Groundwater Monitoring Data Following Important Maps
could be drawn:
 Groundwater levels contour Maps ( Time Variant);
Groundwater Flow Directions;
Groundwater Quality and Risk Maps;
Groundwater technology suitability maps

24. Let us watch a small Video of Hydrological Cycle