Experience in improving piped water supply to the 18 medium-sized towns ofBangladesh

Arsenic contamination in shallow aquifers is severe, and drinking water sta tus is seriously affected in Bangladesh because the majority of the people rely on hand tubewells in both rural and urban areas. Consequently a piped water supply based on deep groundwater aquifers and surface water is consid ered more important to provide arsenic and iron free water to the consumers in urban areas of Bangladesh. AS a result, a few water supply projects wer e initiated to manage piped water supply systems in core areas of the distr ict towns and paurashavas (municipalities) of Bangladesh. one such project is the 18 District Towns Water Supply Project, which also includes hand tub ewell supply in fringe and slum areas. The paper describes the existing pip ed water supply system condition, performance and management following reco mmendations to improve the piped water supply system in 18 medium-sized dis trict towns of Bangladesh.