CWASA Chittagong Water Supply Project Overview
This article analyzes the presentation delivered by the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) at Infrastructure Roadshow 2025. CWASA is the public agency responsible for water supply and sewerage services in Chittagong, Bangladesh's second-largest city with a population of approximately 5.5 million.
Chittagong is the country's largest port city and a major industrial base, yet its water infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. CWASA plans to invest more than $3 billion between 2025 and 2035, with new treatment plants, pipeline expansion, seawater desalination, and wastewater treatment facilities identified as core priorities.
Status of Major Projects
The CWASA portfolio presented at the roadshow includes three water treatment plant projects, two distribution pipeline expansion programs, one seawater desalination project, one wastewater treatment plant, and one non-revenue water reduction program. Chittagong currently depends on the Halda and Karnaphuli rivers as its main water sources, but deteriorating water quality and dry-season shortages are driving interest in desalination.
| Project | Type | Scale | Budget | Funding Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohara WTP Expansion | Water treatment plant | 200,000 m3/day | $500M | ADB | Under construction |
| Kalurghat New WTP | Water treatment plant | 150,000 m3/day | $400M | JICA | Under design |
| Seawater Desalination Plant | RO desalination | 100,000 m3/day | $350M | PPP | Planning stage |
| Southern Distribution Expansion | Pipeline network | 300 km | $250M | World Bank | Under construction |
| NRW Reduction Project | NRW reduction | Citywide | $200M | EDCF | Ongoing |
| Chittagong Wastewater Plant | Wastewater treatment | 150,000 m3/day | $300M | ADB | Preparing tender |
| Karnaphuli Intake Protection | Source protection | 3 intake sites | $80M | GOB | Planned |
| Smart Water Management | ICT system | Citywide | $120M | ADB | Pilot operation |
Seawater Desalination Project Details
The Chittagong desalination project would be Bangladesh's first large-scale seawater desalination facility. Korea Enerbility has ranked among the global leaders in cumulative seawater desalination orders and has extensive experience building large SWRO plants in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Algeria. Because the project is expected to be structured as a PPP, Korean firms could position a BOT proposal that integrates investment, construction, and operations.
NRW Reduction and Smart Water Systems
| Component | Description | Budget | Relevant Korean Technology | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leak Detection | Acoustic and pressure-based detection | $60M | K-water | NRW -7%p |
| DMA Deployment | 12 district metered areas | $50M | Seoul model | NRW -4%p |
| Smart Meters | IoT-based remote metering | $40M | Korean suppliers | NRW -3%p |
| Pipeline Rehabilitation | Replacement of aging pipes | $30M | Construction firms | NRW -2%p |
| Training and Consulting | Operational capacity building | $20M | K-water | Long-term sustainability |
Market Entry Strategy for Korean Companies
CWASA's presentation shows that water infrastructure investment in Chittagong, one of Bangladesh's most strategic port and industrial cities, is both urgent and sizeable, with more than $3 billion in project opportunities. The desalination plant stands out as Bangladesh's first large-scale case and a particularly strong fit for Korean firms with proven SWRO capabilities. The NRW reduction package also aligns well with Korean financing and operational know-how. Direct networking with CWASA at the roadshow should be treated as the first step toward early positioning in this pipeline.