Readers’ Voice

Navigating the contamination crisis in water

Water is synonymous with life. Imagining even a brief moment in our lives without water is challenging.

This essential resource is becoming contaminated due to various reasons, including climate change.

The natural element is now under threat as evidenced by environmental degradation.

This issue is escalating from moderate to severe, adversely affecting the general population’s livelihood.

Climate change is causing a gradual rise in sea levels, resulting in the inundation of coastal areas. Coastal regions are witnessing the intrusion of salty water into rivers and ponds due to the rise in sea levels.

As a consequence, even drinking water becomes contaminated with salinity. The affected people are forced to consume this water, leading to health risks.

In Bangladesh, areas dependent on tube wells are particularly vulnerable. As the groundwater level drops, these tube wells fail to extract water adequately.

In some regions, it has been observed that water levels are declining up to 15 feet annually.

This leads to the ascent of water containing impurities, including heavy metals and mud, from beneath the earth’s surface in tube wells.

Experts warn that if water storage is not controlled, Bangladesh could face a colossal threat in the near future.

The increasing population exacerbates the situation, with an average person requiring three to four liters of water daily for a healthy lifestyle.

Dhaka residents alone extract nearly 70 per cent of water daily just to meet their basic needs. To control this situation, we must prioritize water management.

Preventing water wastage is crucial. Attention should be directed towards unplanned urbanization and industrial activities. Measures should be taken to retain rainwater in the soil.

If there are any solutions to reduce salinity, they need to be identified. Public awareness and government initiatives are essential for effectively managing groundwater levels, and it is an urgent matter.

Predictions suggest that by 2050, water levels may decrease to 120 meters, emphasizing the critical need to address this issue promptly.

The shortage of freshwater may lead to a dire situation, threatening human lives.

Farhana Afser Moury
Student, Department of Geology and Mining
University of Barishal