Dhaka Wasa has increased the price of water sold through its Water ATM booths to Tk1 per litre from Tk0.80, effective from Sunday, March 1 — a 25% hike in under two years.
The latest adjustment follows the August 2023 decision that doubled the price from Tk0.40 to Tk0.80 per litre. Compared to the pre-2023 rate, the price has now increased by 150%, intensifying concerns over affordability in a city where safe drinking water remains a daily challenge.
An office order issued on February 26, signed by Dhaka Wasa Secretary SM Jahangir Hossain, said the decision was taken at the 14th meeting of the Performance Support Committee on January 28 due to rising operation and maintenance costs.
Dhaka Wasa Deputy Chief Public Information Officer Md Imrul Hasan said the board approved the Tk0.20 increase citing higher prices of treatment chemicals, filters and increased labour costs.
Currently, 302 Water ATM booths operate across Dhaka under a partnership between Wasa and US-based non-profit Drinkwell.
Key figures show the scale of impact:
- Registered cardholders: approximately 7,80,000
- Average daily sales: 1.3 million litres
- Previous daily revenue (Tk0.80/litre): Tk1.04 million
- Current daily revenue (Tk1/litre): Tk1.3 million
The price revision is expected to generate roughly Tk2,60,000 additional revenue per day — nearly Tk7.8 million per month — assuming sales remain stable.
The Water ATM initiative began in May 2017 in Mugda, targeting low-income communities lacking reliable access to safe drinking water. Water is extracted from underground sources, treated, and dispensed through RFID-based machines.
The expansion reflects persistent public distrust in piped supply. A 2019 Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study found that 91% of Wasa consumers boil tap water before drinking, costing households an estimated Tk322 crore annually in gas expenses.
Demand is highest in areas with frequent complaints of odor, discoloration or contamination, including Mugda, Kadamtala, Mirpur, Fakirapool and Old Dhaka.
Wasa and Drinkwell have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the network to 500 booths by 2025.
For a family consuming 15 litres of drinking water daily, monthly expenditure now stands at around Tk450, compared to Tk360 previously — excluding regular household water bills.
Expressing her opinion on the issue, Rojina Begum, the wife of a rickshaw-puller from Rajabazar, said, “Everything costs more now. Even drinking water. How will poor families survive in Dhaka?”
On the other hand, day labourer Rubel Mia from Moghbazar said, “We work daily for wages. If water costs more, our meals become smaller.”
Though Wasa describes the increase as a cost adjustment, the move carries broader social implications. With nearly 7,80,000 registered users and 1.3 million litres sold daily, the Water ATM system has evolved into a critical parallel supply network in the capital.
For many low- and middle-income residents, these booths are no longer optional conveniences but essential sources of safe drinking water. As inflation squeezes household budgets and confidence in piped supply remains fragile, incremental price hikes risk disproportionately affecting those with the least financial resilience.
The question now facing policymakers is not only about operational sustainability, but whether access to safe drinking water in Dhaka should be shielded from market pressures — especially for the city’s most vulnerable residents.