The Bepza experience: From groundwater dependence to resilient systems

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) is working closely with enterprises across all export processing zones to promote sustainable and responsible water management. Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, executive chairman of the Bepza in a recent interview with The Business Standard's Jahir Rayhan detailed efforts to expand surface-water use, rainwater harvesting, central effluent treatment, and aquifer recharge to ensure sustainable industrial growth. 

Bepza is gradually shifting industrial water supply away from groundwater towards sustainable alternatives. Six of the eight operational EPZs now have Water Treatment Plants.

What measures are being taken in EPZs to ensure sustainable water management in factories? 

Bepza works closely with enterprises across all EPZs to promote responsible water use and reduce consumption in production. The priority is to ease pressure on groundwater, diversify water sources, and ensure all industrial wastewater is treated before discharge.

A key focus is expanding surface-water use and rainwater harvesting. Treated water from the Karnaphuli River is supplied to industries in Karnaphuli and Chattogram EPZs, while Ishwardi and Mongla EPZs rely on treated water from the Padma and Mongla rivers. Central reservoirs are being developed at the Bepza Economic Zone in Mirsharai, with similar facilities planned for Jashore and Patuakhali EPZs. Feasibility studies are also under way to use nearby rivers and canals as future surface-water sources.

Preventing water pollution is equally critical. Bepza was the first in Bangladesh to introduce Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in industrial zones. Three EPZs currently operate full-scale CETPs, while others ensure factory-level ETPs where required. No industry in any EPZ is allowed to discharge untreated effluent.

Through source diversification, recycling, mandatory treatment, and strict monitoring, EPZs are strengthening sustainable and climate-resilient water management systems.

In areas such as Mirsharai, where salinity intrusion poses a challenge, what steps are being taken to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for industries? 

Mirsharai is a coastal area affected by salinity, prompting BEPZA to adopt a dual-source water supply strategy for the Bepza Economic Zone.

A 45-acre rainwater harvesting lake is being constructed to store seasonal rainwater, meeting a significant share of demand for several months. New factories are also encouraged to incorporate on-site rainwater retention during the monsoon.

In parallel, non-saline surface water from nearby canals and rivers will be collected through a dedicated raw-water network and treated at a Water Treatment Plant for industrial use. Internal pipe networks are already in place, and the WTP operator is being appointed.

Together, harvested rainwater and treated surface water will cut groundwater reliance and ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable supply, similar to systems in CEPZ, KEPZ, IEPZ, and MEPZ.

What specific initiatives are in place within EPZs to prevent water pollution and ensure proper wastewater management? 

Bepza enforces a strict 'no untreated discharge' policy across all zones. Industries generating liquid effluent must operate ETPs, while Chattogram, Dhaka, and Cumilla EPZs run large-scale CETPs. A feasibility study for a new CETP at Adamjee EPZ is also under way.

Wastewater recycling, reuse for non-potable purposes, and responsible sludge management are promoted to support compliant and environmentally sound operations.

With CETPs gaining wider acceptance in industrial clusters, what are your future strategies to enhance their coverage and effectiveness? 

Bepza continues to expand its pioneering CETP model. New zones, including Mirsharai and the upcoming Jashore and Patuakhali EPZs, are being designed with closed-loop CETP systems, using underground duct networks to ensure zero leakage and full treatment.

Where CETPs are not technically viable due to low effluent volumes, factory-level ETPs operate under strict monitoring to prevent any untreated discharge.

Looking ahead, Bepza plans modular and expandable CETP models, allowing treatment capacity to grow in line with industrial demand.

Groundwater levels are declining in some industrial regions. How are EPZ authorities addressing this challenge to protect communities and ensure long-term sustainability? 

Bepza is gradually shifting industrial water supply away from groundwater towards sustainable alternatives. Six of the eight operational EPZs now have Water Treatment Plants that process surface or mixed water for industrial use.

In Karnaphuli and Chattogram EPZs, water is drawn from the Karnaphuli River, treated through reverse osmosis to remove salinity, and supplied to factories, sharply reducing groundwater extraction. Ishwardi and Mongla EPZs use treated water from the Padma and Mongla rivers, supplemented by rainwater ponds. Plans are also in place to source surface water from the Sitalakhya River for Adamjee EPZ and the Gomti River for Cumilla EPZ.

Rainwater ponds and roadside lakes in CEPZ collect monsoon water, while excess water is injected 500-800 feet underground through recharge systems to replenish aquifers during dry seasons. Factories are encouraged to reuse treated wastewater for cooling, gardening, and utilities, cutting consumption and costs. In new zones, natural canals and water bodies are preserved to support ecological balance.

Through surface-water treatment, desalination, rainwater conservation, aquifer recharge, wastewater reuse, and expanded WTP coverage, Bepza aims to build a future-ready industrial water system, with a phased goal of reducing groundwater use to near zero.