In Bangladesh ensuring clean drinking water for 150 million people who live there is a challenge. Grontmij’s far-reaching experience of water and wastewater projects both in Denmark and abroad will now be deployed in two major new assignments for the water supply company in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The contracts have a joint value of 3 million EUR.
2,600 km of pipe
One of the contracts entails planning and supervising the renovation of part of the water supply network, 2,600 km of pipe work in all.
“That’s further than from here to Rome, and also longer than Copenhagen’s entire network. Many of the pipes have to be laid in narrow streets that are completely blocked up with traffic during the daytime, so it will be an exciting challenge,” says Grontmij in Denmark's group manager Jørgen Bygvraa Hansen.
The contract runs for five years, during which time two Grontmij Denmark personnel will be permanently stationed in Bangladesh. Grontmij Denmark's involvement in the assignment totals 150 man-months, and various local business partners will also be taking part in the project.
Grontmij in Denmark has previously drawn up a master plan for the water supply in Dhaka which runs for the next 15-20 years. Because of this close involvement in the preliminary work, the company is in the best possible position to do a good job on this latest contract.
The project kicks off in July 2009 and is being funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank.
Waterworks for two million users
Grontmij in Denmark's other assignment for Dhaka’s water supply company is to oversee the construction of a new waterworks for two million users. This task too is fraught with exciting challenges, as the water that needs treating to become drinking water is surface water that can be heavily polluted at times. Particularly in dry periods when the river is almost stagnant, the river water contains a high level of wastewater.
The waterworks is partly funded by Danida through Mixed Credits. Grontmij in Denmark will have one person stationed on site for the project for three years. In addition, specialists from the company will visit the project frequently. Work is expected to start at the end of the year.
The extensive water projects are an extension of several other projects Grontmij in Denmark has worked on in Bangladesh. Over the past 10 years, the consulting firm has carried out more than 50 major donor-funded assignments in Bangladesh, including various water-related projects and a series of training projects.
“Our far-reaching experience in the water sector makes Grontmij a large, important international player on this market,” emphasises Jørgen Bygvraa Hansen. He believes these latest projects in Bangladesh will further strengthen the company’s position and help to win new contracts both in Bangladesh and in neighbouring countries.