Water in 4 out of 10 zones under Dhaka WASA contains notable levels of arsenic, ammonia, chlorine and bacteria, said a report Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) submitted to the High Court yesterday. After receiving the LGRD report, the High Court asked Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to submit an explanation before it within two weeks regarding its contaminated water.
The LGRD ministry submitted the report to the Attorney General’s Office on July 4 after conducting test in line with an earlier High Court directive. The HC bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order after going through the LGRD report, which said water supplied by the WASA at four zones out of 10 zones are contaminated with arsenic, chlorine, E. coli and ammonia.
The LGRD ministry tested the water of 34 areas in 10 zones and had them tested at the laboratories of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka University (DU) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Re-search, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), said the report.
Samples collected from the four areas also found traces of E.coli (Escherichia coli). While most types of E.coli are harmless and even help keep the digestive tract healthy, some strains can cause severe diarrhea if consumed through contaminated food or water, the report said.
In its report, the LGRD said that zone-1 sample collected from Patlakhan Lane of old Dhaka showed high level of bacterial contamination by the presence of total and fecal coliforms as well as E.coli. In zone-2, sample collected from fire station at Sadarghat showed presence of non-pathogenic bacteria in small number. Zone-4, sample collected from West Kazipara and Mirpur had high level of bacterial contamination by the presence of total and fecal coliforms as well as E.coli, the report said.
Zone-5, sample were collected from deep tubewell. Occupants of the households in the area complained of odor and taste issues. This may have been caused by the presence of high levels of free chlorine and disinfectant by-products such as di and tri-chloroamines. The presence of di and tri-chloroamines have the potential for trihalomethane and halogenic acetic acid, the report said. Zone-6 samples were collected from deep tubewell and found same problems as those in zone-5, the report read.
Zone-7 samples were collected from Sonir Akhra and Golbari, Dhania areas showed the contamination of total coliforms and non-pathogenic bacteria. In Zone-3, 8, 9 and 10, samples were collected from distribution lines close to the deep tubewells. Groundwater in Bangladesh is often found to contain high level of iron. The high level of colour if these samples may have been caused by the presence of iron, the report read.
In addition, samples were collected from Saidabad-1, Saidabad-2, Chadnighat SWTPs and one deep tubewell sample showed presence of bacteriological contamination. Samples from Chadnighat SWTPs show high level of colour. This may be because the plant takes water from surface of the River Buriganga, the report noted.
After hearing on a writ petition, the same bench on May 21 had directed the LGRD ministry to test WASA water supplied in 34 areas.
It also directed the WASA to pay Tk 1.7 lakh to a committee formed by the LGRD ministry for the test and asked the ministry to submit the test report before it.
Deputy Attorney General Mizanur Rahman submitted the report on behalf of the committee, Barrister A M Masum stood for Dhaka WASA and Advocate Tanvir Ahmed stood for the writ petitioner. On May 16, Dhaka WASA admitted that its water supplied to 57 areas was polluted because of faulty pipes.
In April, several residents of Jurain appeared at the WASA Bhaban in Karwan Bazar with lemons, sugar, and a jar of murky water which they said was supplied by the WASA. They proposed that WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan drink the water as the WASA MD had said a few days before that WASA water was completely safe for drinking. On May 7, a platform of residents of Jurain, Shyampur and Kadamtali areas told a mass hearing that WASA should be held accountable for sup-plying polluted water.
MK