RFP# LRPS-2024-9193520-to provide services for Groundwater mapping in Gazipur industrial areas for Assessing and Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Rapid Industrialization and Urbanization on Groundwat

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Institutional Contract

(Avobe USD 10,000)

 

Title

Groundwater mapping in Gazipur industrial areas for Assessing and Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Rapid Industrialization and Urbanization on Groundwater Resources of Gazipur City Corporation Area

Purpose

The project's primary goal is to fortify the groundwater governance system by utilizing data from a thorough evaluation of the Gazipur area's groundwater resources, which includes monitoring, mapping, modeling, and a thorough assessment of the water quality, emerging contaminants.

Location

Dhaka for national level advocacy and Gazipur Industrial areas under Gazipur Sadar Upazilas, Gazipur district

Estimated Duration

5 months starting from November 2024 up to March 2025

Reporting to Technical Supervisor of this assignment

WASH Specialist, WASH Section

 

1. Background

Bangladesh's plentiful water resources offer significant potential across multiple sectors, contributing to the country's economy, food security, resilience, growth, and development. However, there are numerous obstacles to the sustainability of this resource: the contamination of millions with arsenic; the effects of climate change, which cause saline intrusion in coastal belts and a declining water table in the Barind Tract; and the growing competition for portable water in most urban centers due to the rapid growth of pollution brought on by urbanization and industrialization. Furthermore, the overdependence on groundwater for drinking, domestic use, irrigation, and industrial production further exacerbates this situation. In rural areas, over 90 percent of people rely on groundwater for drinking, while over 85 percent of the extracted groundwater in Bangladesh is used in the industry and food production sectors (Shamsudduha et al., 2019). This unplanned and unregulated use of groundwater is pushing this resource to the brink, threatening its long-term availability and accessibility and the life and livelihood of the population.  

Growing industry and urban areas are contributing to the nation's transition to a middle-income status, which puts further strain on groundwater due to higher abstractions, decreasing recharge, and rising pollution. For example, the quick industrialization and urbanization of Gazipur City Corporation, a thriving economic center in Bangladesh, has put a great deal of strain on the quantity and quality of groundwater resources in Gazipur. Additionally, managing effluent (wastewater) is a major concern in an industrial area since it has a direct impact on both surface and groundwater. While considering the situation in Gazipur as a case in point to demonstrate how poor management of groundwater resources is leading to many unwanted outcomes, it is important to use this evidence to come up with recommendations and actions to strengthen and improve the overall groundwater governance in Bangladesh.  

There is growing concern amongst the brands/investors, and they demand that the government should work closely with industry stakeholders to promote sustainable practices, such as water-efficient production processes, groundwater management associated with surface water, waste management and effluent treatment.

These measures, they say, will make their business environment both viable and responsive in the long term, in terms of profitability and in preserving the health and safety of the communities hosting their facilities and housing their workforce. They argue that this will enable them to meet both local and international standards and conventions on sustainable industry practices. They also express concerns that if the current trend is not interrupted, it will expose them to reputational risks and endanger their investments, especially as it concerns the long-term availability of water resources, which is a critical input for their operations.  

2. Objectives, Purpose, and Expected Results

The project's main objective is to strengthen the groundwater governance system by utilizing data from a thorough evaluation of the Gazipur area's groundwater resources, which includes monitoring, mapping, modeling, and a thorough assessment of the water quality, emerging contaminants.

The following specific objectives shall ensure that the main objective is achieved: 

• Conduct groundwater situation analysis using exiting information available from different sources to understand groundwater occurrences and identify gaps.
• Conducting mapping of groundwater resources by combining satellite remote sensing, surface geophysics, exploratory drilling, borehole logging, pumping test, and detailed water quality assessment, including emerging contaminants.
• Perform detailed baseline groundwater quality analysis to decipher groundwater quality variations and contamination hotspots.
• Develop a sensor based real time groundwater monitoring system for routine updates of the changes in groundwater level and quality which will be integrated with digital water platform.
• Development of groundwater flow and solute transport model for making predictions about various future stresses
• Questionnaire survey with support from industry alliance for groundwater abstraction estimation

Expected Results

Groundwater in Gazipur industrial zone is mapped with structured monitoring network and comprehensive management plan in developed in connection with surface water. This study eventually strengthens the groundwater governance system.

3. Description of Assignment

The scope of the assignment will be, but not limited to, the followings: 

1. Mapping of Groundwater Resources (the Dupi Tila aquifers) and land use land cover (LULC) Changes using secondary data and satellite imageries in Gazipur Sadar Upazila.

• Groundwater resource assessment and aping of Gazipur Sadar based on secondary data
• Preliminary Groundwater Model of Gazipur Sadar Upazila
• Groundwater Management Plan for Gazipur for Gazipur

 

 

1. Installation of clustered piezometers at three depths up to 500 m at three locations for updated aquifer mapping, monitoring groundwater level, electrical conductivity and other water quality parameters using telemetering and non-telemetering type data loggers and development of a Groundwater Model

• Establish and strengthen groundwater monitoring system with clustered monitoring wells to understand aquifers geometry and potentiality.
• Finalize groundwater mapping report with updates models at Gazipur Sadar

1. Detailed up baseline groundwater quality analysis to decipher groundwater quality variations and contamination hotspots.

• Chemical analysis of ground- and surface water samples (Major ions using AAS and trace elements using ICP)
• Analysis of industrial effluent for heavy metals using XRF
• Develop baseline water chemistry database for Gazipur Sadar industrial zone.
• Prepare report on detailed quality of surface and groundwater, and inorganic and field parameters of wastewater.

iv. Training programs and Workshops

• Stakeholder consultation on groundwater management plan for Gazipur and result sharing workshop by involving sector actors including government agencies, local communities, industries, academia, brands, investors, developing partners and NGOs.

4. Deliverables

The above-mentioned scope of work is expected to be fulfilled within the provided period. The following table consists of the submission time frame expected to be maintained by the agency. 

 

Timeline

Name of activity 

Description of Tasks

Locations

Deliverable

November 2024 

Develop methodology, approaches, and tools for this assignment 

• Review the Terms of Reference and propose the methodology, approaches, and tools to be adopted to conduct the assignment  

Dhaka and Gazipur 

1. Inception report

Dec 2024

Installation of clustered piezometers at three depths up to 500 m at three locations for updated aquifer mapping, monitoring groundwater level, electrical conductivity and other water quality parameters using telemetering and non-telemetering type data loggers and development of a Groundwater Model

• Piezometer Installation (cluster of 3 piezometers in each of 3 Locations) including all services and materials.
• Develop groundwater monitoring plan in Gazipur to understand groundwater water level and quality variation influenced by different factors with real time monitoring mechanism.
• Conduct RTK survey for the RL
• Finalize groundwater mapping report with updated models.

 

Gazipur

1. Methodology to groundwater monitoring well installation.
2. Groundwater monitoring report with execution plan
3. Detailed report on exploratory drilling and installation of piezometer clusters in three selected areas under Gazipur sadar
4. Finalize groundwater mapping report with updates models at Gazipur Sadar

Dec 2024

Detailed Baseline Groundwater Quality Analysis to decipher groundwater quality variations and contamination hotspots.

• Water quality field measurement and collection of samples for major ions, trace metals, industrial effluent
• Chemical analysis of ground- and surface water samples (Major ions using AAS and trace elements using ICP)
• Analysis of industrial effluent for heavy metals using XRF
• Develop baseline water chemistry database for Gazipur Sadar industrial zone.
• Finalize the report on detailed quality of surface and groundwater, and inorganic and field parameters of wastewater.

 

Gazipur

1. Baseline water chemistry database
2. Preliminary Report on detailed quality of surface and groundwater; and inorganic and field parameters of wastewater
3. Final Report on detailed quality of surface and groundwater; and inorganic and field parameters of wastewater

Nov 2024

Mapping of Groundwater Resources (the Dupi Tila aquifers) and land use land cover (LULC) Changes using secondary data and satellite imageries in Gazipur Sadar Upazila.

• Prepare a repository of secondary datasets, compilation, analysis, and interpretation on groundwater resources.
• Mapping of historical land use landcover (LULC) changes using satellite imageries

Dhaka and Gazipur

1. Situation report on Hydrogeology and Groundwater Resources of Gazipur Sadar based on secondary data.

 

Feb 2025

• Setting up of a preliminary groundwater model
• Questionnaire survey with support from industry alliance for groundwater abstraction estimation
• Compilation of GIS data base
• Conduct national stakeholder consultation on groundwater management plan for Gazipur.
• Finalize groundwater management plan for Gazipur.

 

Dhaka and Gazipur

1. Preliminary Groundwater Model of Gazipur Sadar Upazila
2. Draft Final Assessment Report and Groundwater Management Plan for Gazipur 

1. Final report on Groundwater Management Plan for Gazipur

 

5. Reporting requirements

Two weeks from the date of contract signing the agency must share the final version of the inception report. A situation analysis report on Gazipur groundwater will come after the secondary data analysis by November 2024. UNICEF must receive the first draft of the groundwater management plan using mostly secondary information and groundwater reports with update models by Nov 2024 and January 2025 respectively for further review. After incorporating all comments and suggestions final groundwater management plan need to be in place by February 2025. It is strongly advised that the table of contents be distributed to all team members prior to beginning work on the final report.

6. Payment Schedule

• 5% of total fee upon submission of the inception report describing methodology, approaches, and tools to be adopted to conduct the assignment with work plan.
• 55% of total fee upon submission of the situation analysis report on Hydrogeology and Groundwater Resources of Gazipur Sadar and the 1st draft of groundwater management plan.
• 40% of total fee on acceptance of final reports on groundwater mapping and management plan.

 

7. Qualification requirement of the company/institution/organization

The implementing agency should have similar work experience in WASH, groundwater study, water quality, and environmental assessment with GoB, NGOs, or any other developing partners. The implementing agency should have -

• minimum of ten (10) years of experience in similar groundwater and water supply assessments/studies. They should have technical experience in different kinds of groundwater surveys.
• wide experience in detailed hydrogeological investigations and groundwater modeling
• the capability to manage human resources to carry out time-based activities and deliverables as an emergency project.
• a flexible mentality to allow for modifications to the deliverables as needed.
• an efficient system for managing finances that can produce financial reports on a regular basis, including invoices, and track spending against the budget.
• the ability to provide standard technical and completion reports and finish all jobs within the allotted time.
• relevant organizational policies that are actively implemented for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of the affected population.
• excellent coordination capacity with UNICEF, Government officials, NGOs, and local stakeholders
• strong monitoring mechanism for all ongoing activities in the field and HQ in Dhaka
• strong project management and collaboration with other partners under GoB-UNICEF program
• The agency should not sub-contract any other agencies.
• The agency should have qualified experts which includes Hydrogeologist, GIS/Geospatial analyst, Groundwater modeler, water quality expert and field coordinator. It’s imperative to have an experience and qualified team leader to manage this team and overall activities.
• The man days of above mentioned experts and field professionals should be rationale considering project activities and volume of work.