Water as a Shared Risk: Resilience and responsibility in Bangladesh’s apparel industry
WaterAid has been working with Bangladesh's apparel sector for nearly a decade, and our engagement has evolved alongside the sector's growing understanding of water risk. In the early years, our focus was on promoting rainwater harvesting as a sustainable alternative water source for factories, while also supporting workers and surrounding communities with access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. We provided technical aid to help factories design, install, and operate rainwater harvesting systems, easing pressure on heavily stressed groundwater in industrial hubs such as Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Savar, while improving dignified conditions for workers.
Over time, the sector has made tangible progress in improving its water footprint. Many factories now use more water-efficient machinery, conduct regular water audits, and have strengthened monitoring of water use across their operations. Investment has also increased in alternative water sources, including rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse, driven by both environmental necessity and buyer expectations. One factory we worked with, Plummy Fashions Ltd, reports saving around 40 per cent of its water through rainwater harvesting alone. At a broader level, the International Finance Corporation's PaCT programme shows that 338 Bangladeshi factories have collectively reduced freshwater use by around 25 million cubic metres per year and cut wastewater discharge by more than 21 million cubic metres.
Despite this progress, water challenges cannot be solved factory by factory. To build climate resilience, businesses must recognise that water is a shared resource, not an individual asset. Sustainable water management therefore requires collaboration among policymakers, industries, communities, and financiers. WaterAid plays a convening role in this collective effort. We work with government agencies to present credible evidence that supports stronger regulatory frameworks and policy reforms. At the same time, we function as a bridge between brands and industry actors, helping translate sustainability commitments into practical actions such as circular water solutions, improved efficiency, and responsible sourcing.
An Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach is critical in this context. Water systems are shared across industries, communities, and ecosystems, making isolated interventions insufficient. IWRM promotes coordinated planning at the basin or catchment level and shifts the focus from individual factory efficiency to collective resilience. For the apparel sector, this means collaborating with local governments and communities on initiatives such as managed aquifer recharge, transparent water audits, and wastewater reuse schemes. When factories align their water use with local availability and act collectively, cumulative impacts can be reduced and long-term risks better managed.
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Small and medium-sized factories also have a key role to play. Many opportunities exist for them to improve water performance through low-cost measures such as repairing leaks, improving process efficiency, and maintaining basic fixtures. Studies show that simple interventions—such as fixing valves and toilets—can reduce water wastage by 10 to 30 per cent. Rainwater harvesting can also meet up to 60 per cent of a factory's non-drinking water demand. However, these factories often face barriers, including high upfront costs, limited technical expertise, space constraints, and intense production pressure that leaves little time for sustainability planning.
Targeted support systems are therefore essential. Access to technical guidance and concessional financing can enable smaller factories to adopt efficient technologies. National mechanisms such as Bangladesh Bank's Green Transformation Fund and IDCOL help reduce financial barriers, while brand-led programmes can pool resources and share infrastructure costs.
As partnerships with factories and global brands have matured, WaterAid's role has expanded beyond compliance-focused support to more strategic engagement. In recent years, this has included a stronger emphasis on wastewater management, promoting efficient treatment technologies and encouraging factories to move towards Minimum Liquid Discharge and, where feasible, Zero Liquid Discharge systems. Fakir Knitwear Ltd's large-scale wastewater treatment and reuse facility in Narayanganj illustrates this shift, with the plant expected to reduce freshwater extraction by around 30 per cent and lower production-related water use by approximately 22 per cent annually.
My message to industry leaders is clear: sustainable water management is no longer optional—it is fundamental to the future of the apparel sector. Factories must move beyond a compliance-only mindset and take collective responsibility for water stewardship. Brands must share the financial burden of transition, financiers need to offer accessible funding, and governments should prioritise enabling policies and incentives. The decisions taken today will determine whether Bangladesh's apparel industry remains resilient and competitive in an increasingly water-constrained future.
Hasin Jahan, Country Director, WaterAid Bangladesh
