The Dhaka Water Services Turnaround

This publication features an ADB project that turned around an urban water utility in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and offers a good example for other similar utilities in South Asia. ADB's investment program in the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) provided a breakthrough in approaching urban development, particularly the delivery of clean, reliable, affordable water and to the poor, no less. And not just a breakthrough for Dhaka or the rest of Bangladesh, but for the region of South Asia. This publication looks at the key success factors that other utilities are taking note of: The zonal approach to rehabilitating and managing urban water services, trenchless technology for expeditiously laying pipes, and how to connect the urban poor-and keeping them connected-through community-managed approaches.