Ctg Wasa plans to install 1 lakh smart meters amid implementation worries
To tackle this, Chattogram Wasa launched a pilot project to install 3,000 smart meters — but implementation took nearly three and a half years
Chattogram Wasa has only 37 meter inspectors responsible for collecting meter readings from over 94,000 connections. Alongside the failure to collect bills from all customers, long-standing allegations persist against meter inspectors for colluding to understate bills and facilitating water theft through illegal connections.
To tackle this, Chattogram Wasa launched a pilot project to install 3,000 smart meters — but implementation took nearly three and a half years. Now, with World Bank loan assistance, the agency has taken up a new project to install around 1 lakh smart meters. However, project insiders themselves express doubts about successful implementation.
According to Chattogram Wasa, in 2022, a pilot initiative was launched to install smart meters in 3,000 consumer connections in the Chandgaon zone at a cost of Tk5.79 crore. Importing the meters, installing them, and fixing technical faults delayed completion until May this year. Some meters still show defects and need replacement.
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To address non-revenue water, Chattogram Wasa has launched a Jica-funded meter reading app since December last year, now used in about 8,000 connections
The pilot project is overseen by Chattogram Wasa's system analyst (current charge) and computer programmer, Lutfi Jahan. She told The Business Standard, "Some meters had defects, but they come with a five-year warranty. These will be replaced. Some meters are yet to be activated due to gateway issues, but will be operational soon. We are receiving regular meter readings."
Implementation worries over 1 lakh new meters
In April this year, the government approved a Tk3,745 crore project to improve Chattogram's water supply and ensure equitable distribution. Funded by the World Bank, it includes laying 375km of new pipelines, establishing 46 district metering areas (DMAs), and installing around 1 lakh smart meters. Around Tk250 crore of the project has been earmarked for smart meters and data systems.
Officials say they will first install 30,000 meters as a test phase. If successful, the rest will follow. But there are concerns about resistance from meter inspectors and revenue officials, as smart meters will eliminate illegal sales, under-billing, and bribery. Even with the pilot 3,000 meters, there were complaints from within the revenue branch.
Two Chattogram Wasa engineers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told TBS, "There are fears some might deliberately damage meters and then lodge complaints. This already happened with some of the pilot meters. Smart meters will cut off a syndicate's illegal income, but engineering will bear responsibility for faults. The World Bank has been made aware of the ground reality. They said they will consider these challenges. Efforts will also be made to procure European meters."
Chief Engineer Makshud Alam told TBS, "A consultant will assess pros and cons. Only then will final installation proceed. Under contract terms, contractors must collect bills for a year and reduce non-revenue water before handing over. We will also review experiences from the first 3,000 meters."
The challenge of cutting non-revenue water
Chattogram Wasa currently has over 94,000 connections — 93% residential and 7% commercial — serving around 32 lakh people in the city. But at least 10% of those with connections do not get regular water.
The utility's daily production capacity is 50 crore litres. Once the Bhandal-Juri project is complete, it will add 6 crore litres, though mainly for areas outside the city.
Surveys show daily demand is already 56 crore litres, projected to rise to 70 crore by 2032 and 122 crore by 2040.
"We have only 37 inspectors for 94,000 connections; at least 80 are needed. We are conducting eight mobile courts monthly. Efforts are underway to cut non-revenue water and boost revenue. The rate has come down to 22–25% and we expect further improvement."
Non-revenue water in Chattogram Wasa's system is estimated at 25–30%, compared to the global benchmark of under 5%. This means Tk14–17 crore worth of water monthly cannot be accounted for. Long-standing allegations blame meter inspectors and revenue officials for corruption.
The recently completed Tk3,082 crore Karnaphuli Water Supply Project-02, financed by Jica, added 692km of distribution pipelines, 59 DMAs, and 35.3km of transmission pipelines. It was supposed to reduce non-revenue water, but that hasn't happened significantly.
Project documents show non-revenue water in the 39 DMAs surveyed ranged from as low as 0.2% to as high as 14%, mostly under 10%.
An internal probe in 2020 found only 3.89% loss due to leakage. The rest was believed to be illegal sales or unauthorised extraction. This raises questions on whether the new World Bank project can meaningfully reduce non-revenue water.
Chief Revenue Officer Ruman Dey told TBS, "We have only 37 inspectors for 94,000 connections; at least 80 are needed. We are conducting eight mobile courts monthly. Efforts are underway to cut non-revenue water and boost revenue. The rate has come down to 22–25% and we expect further improvement."
Meter reading app introduced
To address non-revenue water, Chattogram Wasa has launched a Jica-funded meter reading app since December last year, now used in about 8,000 connections.
Currently, production, management, and reporting are recorded in Excel, while billing is entirely manual. Inspectors take meter readings, bills are generated in the IT department, and then delivered — a cycle that takes 12 weeks. Manual billing has an error rate of 30%.
The new app automates billing. Inspectors enter readings on-site, bills are auto-generated, and customers receive printed copies from handheld printers. Payments can be made via QR code. The app requires meter photos for verification, tracks inspector location via GPS, and works offline too.
Chief Engineer Makshud Alam said, "With Jica's support, Chattogram Wasa is implementing the meter reading app, management dashboards, and non-revenue water monitoring tools. This will boost revenue collection, curb illegal water supply, and reduce non-revenue water."
