Manjur Morshed Tuhin (Patuakhali Correspondent),

When power goes out, the water pump stops, and when the pump stops, the water supply of the entire municipality stops. Patuakhali residents are in extreme distress as power and water supply are cut off for at least 10 hours due to 8 to 10 load sheddings during the day and night. Due to the lack of normal water flow, everything from cooking, bathing, washing clothes, toilets and sanitation to offices-courts, business establishments, hospitals-clinics, educational institutions and cleaning activities are being disrupted. It is reported that many are falling ill due to lack of adequate water.

According to statistics, in the 2022 census, the population of Patuakhali Municipality was about 82,521 people and the number of holdings was 13,502. However, according to relevant sources, the current population in the municipality is about 215,000. With the increase in population, water consumption and demand are constantly increasing. Although Patuakhali Municipality is a 'A' class municipality, the water supply system is still inadequate compared to the increasing population pressure.

Currently, there are 4 overhead water tanks, 14 deep tube wells and 12 pump stations for water supply in the municipality. But since the pump stations are completely dependent on electricity, water extraction and supply also stop when the power supply is stopped. The biggest problem is that there is no effective alternative power system at these pump stations. As a result, the entire water supply system is dependent on the electricity supplier, Ozopadiko.

According to relevant information from the municipality, the total demand for potable water is about 600,000 cubic meters per month. On the contrary, the normal supply is only 313,001 cubic meters. That is, even if there is no power outage, there is a large deficit in water supply compared to demand. In reality, the crisis is becoming more acute due to frequent load shedding.

Almost half of the residents of the city depend on the municipality's water management. The rest are meeting their needs by installing water pumps with their own funds. In addition to cooking, bathing, washing clothes and other household chores, all work at home has to depend on this water.

According to the municipality, there are 9,482 water meter connections for customers. Apart from this, there are 135 more free connections for various service and private institutions including mosques and temples. According to the relevant information, at least 70,000 cubic meters of water is consumed for these institutions.

Along with the water crisis, the income and expenditure account of the water department has also come under discussion. According to the information, in the 2024-25 fiscal year, the income from the water department was 51 million 31 thousand taka and the expenditure was 468 million 52 thousand taka. In the fiscal year 2025-26, the income was 49 million 95 thousand taka and the expenditure was 48 million 89 million 74 thousand taka. The city residents have raised questions about the water crisis of the citizens despite the income and expenditure of crores of taka.

Md. Yunus, a resident of ward number 4 of the municipality, said, “The way we used to get water, we are not getting it now due to load shedding. Currently, the water crisis is a misery for the common citizen. We want uninterrupted water provision through the municipality's own power management.”

Md. Jasim Uddin, executive engineer of Patuakhali Municipality, said, “If uninterrupted power could be provided, then 60 percent of the water needed by the municipality could be provided.” He said that no pipe network has been built in Patuakhali Municipality in the last five years. In comparison, the population density has increased by 40 percent. Recently, two more deep tube wells were installed within the municipality to increase water production by 20 percent, but it was not successful due to technical errors.

The executive engineer said that there is no plan to run water pumps under its own power management for now. However, there are plans to build 6 more producer tube wells and 4 overhead tanks in the near future. He expressed hope that if these are implemented, water can be supplied to customers according to their needs for the next 20 to 30 years.

However, the question of the city dwellers is, what is the solution to the current crisis until the implementation of the long-term project? With the fear that power supply will not be normal across the country even in the next two years, how realistic it is to run the water supply system solely depending on Ozopadiko's electricity is also a big question now.

The city dwellers demand that in addition to building long-term tube wells and overhead tanks, their own alternative power systems should be introduced at the pump stations on an emergency basis. If there is a generator, solar power or any other reliable backup system, it will be possible to keep the water supply running at least during load shedding. At the same time, they demanded rapid expansion of the pipe network, increase in water production, ensure the effectiveness of the existing infrastructure, and ensure transparency and effective management of the income and expenditure of the water sector.

In the words of the city dwellers, if there is no electricity, there will be no water—such a system cannot be sustainable urban water management. Along with planning for the future 20-30 years, today's water crisis must be solved today—this is the main demand of the Patuakhali municipality residents now.