Safe drinking water

Sustained government efforts and private initiatives can solve the problem of safe drinking water

Speakers in discussion meeting in Khulna on Monday stressed the need for safe water to ensure sound health for mass people. They said rightly that natural supply of safe water and effective measures for protecting safe water must be ensured.  Shortage of safe drinking water is a global phenomenon and Bangladesh is no exception. It is the democratic right of every citizen of the country to have access to safe drinking water but question arises, how many people are getting it? 
The number of population is increasing in the country and water consumption is also increasing manifold. There has been a great pressure on the groundwater in the country over the past few years. Spurt in the construction of high rise buildings in cities and towns in recent times, is taking its toll on the groundwater. Around 98 per cent readily available fresh water comes from groundwater globally but in Bangladesh arsenic, manganese, fluoride, etc. are found in groundwater that is endangering public health. Dearth of safe drinking water is jeopardizing the smooth living of many city-dwellers. Taking advantage of the acute crisis of safe drinking water, many companies are producing and selling bottled water and people are consuming the same. But all the companies selling water are not maintaining the quality. 
Consumption of spurious drinking water may cause various intestinal and other diseases. The condition is more precarious in rural areas where many people are forced to drink contaminated water. It is heartening that many of the companies producing sub-standard drinking water have been identified and punished. Rainwater harvesting can greatly address the problem of safe drinking water in the country. Bangladesh is a climate-friendly country and it experiences sufficient rain, particularly during monsoon. Rainwater can be collected and preserved by using modern technology. 
The government has done a lot for the development of various sectors in the country. The safe drinking water problem also warrants solution in the shortest possible time. A long-term programme in coordination with the major NGOs of the country can solve the problem in phases. Sustained government efforts and private initiatives can solve the problem of safe drinking water. What is also needed is generation of public awareness about use of safe drinking water. Vigorous publicity campaign can help a lot in this regard.  

 

Safe drinking water

Sustained government efforts and private initiatives can solve the problem of safe drinking water

Speakers in discussion meeting in Khulna on Monday stressed the need for safe water to ensure sound health for mass people. They said rightly that natural supply of safe water and effective measures for protecting safe water must be ensured. Shortage of safe drinking water is a global phenomenon and Bangladesh is no exception. It is the democratic right of every citizen of the country to have access to safe drinking water but question arises, how many people are getting it? The number of population is increasing in the country and water consumption is also increasing manifold. There has been a great pressure on the groundwater in the country over the past few years. Spurt in the construction of high rise buildings in cities and towns in recent times, is taking its toll on the groundwater. Around 98 per cent readily available fresh water comes from groundwater globally but in Bangladesh arsenic, manganese, fluoride, etc. are found in groundwater that is endangering public health. Dearth of safe drinking water is jeopardizing the smooth living of many city-dwellers. Taking advantage of the acute crisis of safe drinking water, many companies are producing and selling bottled water and people are consuming the same. But all the companies selling water are not maintaining the quality. Consumption of spurious drinking water may cause various intestinal and other diseases. The condition is more precarious in rural areas where many people are forced to drink contaminated water. It is heartening that many of the companies producing sub-standard drinking water have been identified and punished. Rainwater harvesting can greatly address the problem of safe drinking water in the country. Bangladesh is a climate-friendly country and it experiences sufficient rain, particularly during monsoon. Rainwater can be collected and preserved by using modern technology. The government has done a lot for the development of various sectors in the country. The safe drinking water problem also warrants solution in the shortest possible time. A long-term programme in coordination with the major NGOs of the country can solve the problem in phases. Sustained government efforts and private initiatives can solve the problem of safe drinking water. What is also needed is generation of public awareness about use of safe drinking water. Vigorous publicity campaign can help a lot in this regard.