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Safe water options: answer to arsenic crisis

G. Nayeem Wahra

Convenor, Disaster Forum

Arsenic contamination in the ground water of Bangladesh is now well reported and its impact on human life and environment has already proven to be life threatening at a national scale. There have already been several research initiatives under taken by the Government, the multilateral and the bilateral agencies that have centered on geological and hydrological interpretation and clinical manifestation. Though such initiatives are important for assessing and identifying the uncontaminated aquifers, Oxfam fears that excessive exploration of geological & hydrological composition may encourage further exploitation of ground water rather than looking at other possible sources of safe water.

Oxfam Dhaka, in 1997 conducted a brief survey on surface water sources and systems in Kushtia District where arsenic contamination is severe. About 2% of the surveyed population depends on existing dug-well/indara for drinking water for drinking water purposes. The survey further revealed other sources which could be used as alternative sources of drinking water, for example, existing perennial can be used for "Pond Sand Filter" (PSF) and five pitcher filter could be re-introduced. UNICEF along with DPHE promotes "Pond Sand Filter" and 'Ring-Well"(RW) in areas where it has not been possible to sink tubewells or where ground water is unfit for human consumption. These systems are recognized as safe sources for drinking water under acceptable sanitary condition. We are also aware of the possibility of the contamination of alternative source of water by different bacteria / pathogen, but there also simple solutions for treating such water.


 

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