A population of 12 million people and, in addition, large numbers taking up residence, each and every day! Securing health conditions and, at the same time, taking care with respect to environmental impact will require a city with a strong supply network. Today, only a small part of the wastewater generated by the Dhaka population is actually subjected to treatment. By far the majority of the sewage is led, untreated, through sewers to the surrounding rivers or lakes and thus gives rise to a profound environmental impact.
 
The Danes possess the expertise
Once again, the Dhaka authorities have looked towards Denmark in their hunt for experts capable of handling water projects of such a scale as is required here. This is why, as early as January, yet another team of Grontmij | Carl Bro water specialists will travel to Bangladesh in order to assist Dhaka Water & Waste Water in the handling of this large-scale project. In the course of the next 18 months, Grontmij | Carl Bro will be responsible for preparing a Master Plan for the capital's wastewater handling, for performing project designs, and for issuing tender invitations pertaining to a series of urgent projects amounting to approximately DKK 500m. The entire project, to be financed by the World Bank, has just been put into operation.

New Danish technologies to be transferred to local conditions
”Including the most recent projects in Dhaka, Grontmij | Carl Bro will now provide solutions for a total of three major water projects in Bangladesh. These projects represent investments of well over DKK 10bn in renewal of drinking-water systems and wastewater handling. In all three projects, we find it important to introduce new technologies and solutions that, in a future perspective, can be used by the local technicians in the country. This will take place in cooperation with a number of Danish supply companies that will contribute to securing the delivery of a best practice within the operation of supply systems – one of Denmark's core strengths as compared with international standards,” says Hans-Martin Friis Møller, Water Director in Grontmij | Carl Bro.

Hans-Martin Friis Møller further adds that, in the course of 2011, he expects Grontmij | Carl Bro to be employing well over 100 people at the Dhaka project offices and that, hence, he will soon be on the lookout for new competent employees for the company's water projects.
 

FACTS – three major water projects in Bangladesh Most recent project, financed by the World Bank The project consists of 5 stages: The preparation of prognoses for future urban expansion, consumption patterns and the generation of wastewater An account of existing wastewater handling and of the necessary steps for bringing this to an acceptable level The preparation of a principal wastewater plan together with a ”Master Plan” The identification of those areas where a rapid investment of approximately DKK 500m will facilitate the best possible improvement in the system and thus make the most significant difference Project design and tender invitation in connection with the initial investment projects The establishment of a sewage-treatment plant Grontmij | Carl Bro is already attached as consultant on the establishment of a sewage-treatment plant, servicing a little over two million inhabitants, with a daily capacity of 500,000 m3. This project is financed by Danida with Danish MT Højgård as the main contractor. In addition to the wastewater handling in Dhaka, the focus is also on securing clean water for the city's inhabitants.   Renovation and replacement of 2,500 kilometres of water pipes Grontmij | Carl Bro's third large project in the city comprises the replacement and renovation of more than 2,500 km water-supply pipes – a project amounting to more than DKK 1.5bn. This project will be followed by the establishment of a water utility company with a daily capacity for converting 500,000 m3 river water into potable water. This is the equivalent of more than 180 million m3 annually. For comparison, the annual drinking-water conversion in Denmark is approximately 800 million m3.

Contact information:
Hans-Martin Friis Møller, Water Director in Grontmij | Carl Bro, tel. +45 2723 6090
Jens Thøgersen, Team Leader in Grontmij | Carl Bro, tel. +45 27 23 60 04
Lasse Bjerre Sørensen, PR Manager in Grontmij | Carl Bro, tel. +45 27 23 69 61
 

About Grontmij | Carl Bro

Grontmij | Carl Bro is a part of the Dutch group Grontmij and comprises the parent company Grontmij | Carl Bro A/S with activities in Denmark and internationally. The company participates in projects carried out in most of the world. Grontmij | Carl Bro also has subsidiaries in e.g. Lithuania and Vietnam. Grontmij is the fourth largest water consultancy in the world.