International training and exposure visit on Urban Rainwater Harvesting System

Why Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) provides a cost-effective and practical nature-based solution to address the emerging water crisis due to climate change and rapid population growth in urban context. Bangladesh National Water Policy 1999 recognises rainwater as the third source of water. In urban areas, rainwater can be used for flushing toilets, watering gardens, washing cars and floors, and other non-potable purposes, thereby reducing dependency on existing water supply sources. At the same time, rainwater harvesting can reduce the pressure on urban drainage system and avoid urban water-logging. Moreover, with the increasing industrial water demand, it can be an alternative water source. To meet international buyers’ compliance requirements and maintain factory standards, RMG factories are also encouraged to install RWHS in their premises, which can be used for industrial production and groundwater recharge.

Many initiatives and programmes have recently been promoting rainwater harvesting systems in urban and industrial buildings. Incorporating rainwater management as a separate chapter in the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020 emphasises its significance.

Practitioners, planners, academicians, industrialists, students, researchers, and policymakers working on water and environmental issues need to be sensitised and capacitated on rainwater harvesting systems to tackle the water crisis and ensure future water security. In this regard, WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with International Training Network Centre, BUET (ITN-BUET) and International Water Association (IWA) is organising the international training and exposure visit 2024 on urban rainwater harvesting system.

Learning Objective

The participants will get the opportunity to learn from national and international technical experts, academicians and professionals who have experience in implementing RWHS. The participants shall have exposure to and a better understanding of:

• Urban water challenges and importance of rainwater harvesting.
• Planning and designing of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge system
• Water safety plan and LEED certification
• Principles of rainwater harvesting and its components
• Simplified cost-benefit analysis of rainwater harvesting
• Practical rainwater harvesting focusing on water retain, reuse, and recharge

Application Deadline

14 February 2024

Date and Venue

Date: 02-05 March 2024
Mode: Residential
Language: English
Venue: Dream Square Resort, Gazipur and ITN-BUET, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Training Fees

National Participants: 35,000 BDT
*The training fee stated above is inclusive of training registration fee (3000 BDT), which is compulsory to pay by the selected applicants irrespective of partial or full fellowship.

International Participants: N/A
Selected applicants from foreign countries will be automatically eligible for full fellowship. However, they have to bear the travel cost and accommodation cost beyond the training days (for overstay or early arrival to the host country).

Fellowship Opportunity

We are offering partial and full fellowships for the international training and exposure visit 2024 on urban rainwater harvesting system to a limited number of deserving candidates. Those who are funded by UN agencies or other international agencies will not be eligible for this fellowship.

Additional Benefit

Selected participants successfully completing the training will receive one year membership of International Water Association (IWA), the largest membership association for the global water sector.

Expected Participants

Engineers, architects, environmentalists, industrialists, urban planners, academicians, policymakers and development practitioners from relevant field.

* Female and young professionals are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree or diploma as a minimum criterion.

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For further information, please contact:

Mr Rakib Uddin Ahmed
Senior Information & Documentation Officer
ITN-BUET
Cell: +88016 720 730 70
Email: rakib@itn-buet.org
Or

Ms Samia Anwar Rafa
Associate Officer- Technical
WaterAid Bangladesh
Email: samiarafa@wateraid.org