Two crore people deprived of arsenic-free safe water
OVER two crore people are still deprived of arsenic-free drinking water in non-fulfillment of a commitment made by the ruling Awami League in its 2008 election manifesto, as per a report of a local daily.
Access to improved drinking water sources rose from 68 per cent (in 1990) to 87 per cent (in 2015) of the population. The Awami League had made a commitment in Article 11.2 of its manifesto published during the 2008 general elections that safe drinking water would be provided for all by resolving arsenic problem by 2011. In a modified commitment made in its 2014 polls manifesto, the party said it would develop strong mechanism to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water for all.
The coverage of water supply has been lowered particularly due to arsenic contamination in groundwater mostly in the shallow aquifers, contamination of groundwater by salinity in coastal districts, bacteriological contamination and contamination by iron and other chemicals in many central districts and hill areas. People in areas other than major cities primarily depend on groundwater from shallow aquifers, where arsenic is generally found, as their drinking water source.
Arsenic is found in bedrock and often contaminates well water. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is found in many countries throughout the world, including the USA – and affects over 137 million people in 70 countries. Arsenic contamination of the groundwater in Bangladesh is a serious problem. Prior to the 1970s, Bangladesh had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Ineffective water purification and sewage systems as well as periodic monsoons and flooding exacerbated these problems.
As a solution, UNICEF and the World Bank advocated the use of wells to tap into deeper groundwater. Millions of wells were constructed as a result. Because of this action, infant mortality and diarrheal illness were reduced by fifty percent. However, with over 8 million wells constructed, approximately one in five of these wells is now contaminated with arsenic above the government’s drinking water standard.
In the Ganges Delta, the affected wells are typically more than 20 meters and less than 100 meters deep. Groundwater closer to the surface typically has spent a shorter time in the ground, therefore likely absorbing a lower concentration of arsenic; water deeper than 100m is exposed to much older sediments which have already been depleted of arsenic. However it is quite easy to provide access to water which has no arsenic by simply digging tubewells within 20-100 metres or providing filters to get rid of arsenic.
However in Bangladesh other problems exist – due to nepotism and corruption government tubewells are given to private families in exchange for bribes, thus reducing the number of tubewells for use for ordinary citizens. Also not enough tubewells are installed in areas with water shortage, thus needlessly exacerbating the problem. A national problem requires a national solution – with over 20 million people affected more solutions need to be implemented impartially to ensure all have acces to the most basic of rights – drinking clean water.
Access to improved drinking water sources rose from 68 per cent (in 1990) to 87 per cent (in 2015) of the population. The Awami League had made a commitment in Article 11.2 of its manifesto published during the 2008 general elections that safe drinking water would be provided for all by resolving arsenic problem by 2011. In a modified commitment made in its 2014 polls manifesto, the party said it would develop strong mechanism to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water for all.
The coverage of water supply has been lowered particularly due to arsenic contamination in groundwater mostly in the shallow aquifers, contamination of groundwater by salinity in coastal districts, bacteriological contamination and contamination by iron and other chemicals in many central districts and hill areas. People in areas other than major cities primarily depend on groundwater from shallow aquifers, where arsenic is generally found, as their drinking water source.
Arsenic is found in bedrock and often contaminates well water. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is found in many countries throughout the world, including the USA – and affects over 137 million people in 70 countries. Arsenic contamination of the groundwater in Bangladesh is a serious problem. Prior to the 1970s, Bangladesh had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Ineffective water purification and sewage systems as well as periodic monsoons and flooding exacerbated these problems.
As a solution, UNICEF and the World Bank advocated the use of wells to tap into deeper groundwater. Millions of wells were constructed as a result. Because of this action, infant mortality and diarrheal illness were reduced by fifty percent. However, with over 8 million wells constructed, approximately one in five of these wells is now contaminated with arsenic above the government’s drinking water standard.
In the Ganges Delta, the affected wells are typically more than 20 meters and less than 100 meters deep. Groundwater closer to the surface typically has spent a shorter time in the ground, therefore likely absorbing a lower concentration of arsenic; water deeper than 100m is exposed to much older sediments which have already been depleted of arsenic. However it is quite easy to provide access to water which has no arsenic by simply digging tubewells within 20-100 metres or providing filters to get rid of arsenic.
However in Bangladesh other problems exist – due to nepotism and corruption government tubewells are given to private families in exchange for bribes, thus reducing the number of tubewells for use for ordinary citizens. Also not enough tubewells are installed in areas with water shortage, thus needlessly exacerbating the problem. A national problem requires a national solution – with over 20 million people affected more solutions need to be implemented impartially to ensure all have acces to the most basic of rights – drinking clean water.
