Hasin Jahan, Country Director, WaterAid Bangladesh, stated that water wastage remains widespread, and pricing industrial water could be a necessary step to force efficiency, conservation, and alternative sourcing. Restrictions already exist in several industrial zones; however, experts cautioned that the situation now demands serious policy enforcement rather than advisories alone.

Speakers also highlighted that despite extended monsoon periods, natural recharge capacity is weakening due to soil imbalance and urban expansion, meaning rainwater is no longer replenishing aquifers as expected. With groundwater powering manufacturing — especially textile and RMG production — experts fear the reserve is shrinking faster than it can recover.

The discussion further revealed a critical operational gap. While many industries have effluent treatment plants (ETPs), they are not consistently used due to high running costs, often being activated only during inspections. Experts called for mandatory metering, robust inspection frameworks, and technology-based ETP monitoring to ensure compliance.

Concerns deepened with insights shared on zero-discharge readiness. Nearly 70% of factories lack the physical space needed to install such systems, and smaller units struggle to access financing for sustainable water solutions. Industry representatives stressed that green investments raise operational cost by roughly 30%, yet brands do not offer fair price differentials in return — limiting motivation for transition.

Water governance, financial incentives, private-sector operation of treatment systems, and rainwater harvesting emerged as key solutions, alongside structured water tariffs to discourage wasteful extraction. Stakeholders warned that if pricing and metering are not introduced soon, both industrial continuity and local communities will face severe scarcity.