Editorial
Unsafe supply water
Ward off an impending health disaster
THE report carried by a leading Bangla daily that the pipe water supplied by the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) contains bacteria and dissolved solid matter must have been a shocker for the residents of the capital city. The fact that out of the 22 samples of water examined by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), only seven have been found to be safe for drinking, is distressing enough. Now the users of WASA water would be left wondering if the supply water of their particular block is safe or not.
Since it is a matter of serious health concern, the authorities concerned should come out on the issue in clear terms to assuage public sentiment. For WASA managing director (MD)'s contention that the supply water has no reason to be impure at its source is hardly reassuring, when he in the same breath also stated that the pipelines may be at fault as they might have sprung a leak or two or that the aging pipes are in bad repair at some places.
The WSA authority's disclosure about the leakages in the pipe lines rhymes well with the (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) scientist's view that impure supply water has a lot to do with the rising number of diarrhoea patients in his hospital.
Now what should the consumers of supply water do? Should they stop using supply water until the leaks in the pipes are repaired or the old pipes are replaced? And since that is not forthcoming, they will be compelled to drink this water and continue to expose themselves to serious health hazards. The situation calls for a massive repair and maintenance activities by WASA. Sorry to say, WASA authority has not said anything clearly on this score.
In this connection, we appreciate High Court's having issued the order that has made the government to test WASA water to discover the existence of bacteria and dissolved solid substances in it beyond acceptable limits.
But the fact remains that the discovery itself will not help the suffering public.
Regrettably, it is also not for the first time that the WASA water has come under fire. Reports on foul smelling water, presence of faecal substance in water and so on has long been in the news. But so far the authorities have done precious little to address the problem.
To all appearances, the latest report on bacteria in WASA water is only the tip of the iceberg.
The government and the WASA authorities should take immediate steps to ensure the supply of clean water to the consumers before it turns into be a full-scale health disaster.
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