The High Court has asked Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to submit an explanation before it regarding its contaminated water.
The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order on Sunday, following a report placed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD).
The court asked Dhaka Wasa to submit the explanation within July 24.
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Four out of 10 zones under Dhaka Wasa contained notable levels of arsenic, ammonia, chlorine and bacteria, according to a government report.
The report was submitted to the Attorney General’s Office by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) on July 3, following a High Court directive.
Samples collected from the four areas also found traces of E.coli (Escherichia coli), sources at the Attorney General’s Office said.
Most types of E. coli are harmless and even help keep the digestive tract healthy. However, some strains can cause severe diarrhea if consuming through contaminated food or water.
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On May 16, Dhaka Wasa submitted a report, signed by its managing director, which said residents of 59 areas under 10 MODS zones have complained of receiving poor quality water from the state agency.
On May 21, after hearing a writ petition, a High Court bench directed the LGRD to test Wasa water supplied to 34 areas in Dhaka.
It also directed Wasa to pay Tk1.7 lakh to a committee formed by the LGRD ministry for the testing.
The LGRD ministry collected Wasa water samples from 34 areas in 10 zones, including Sayedabad and Chadnighat, and had them tested at the laboratories of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka University and International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
Zone | Sample Collected Area | Result |
MODS zone 1 | Patlakhan Lane | Total and fecal coliform, E. coli |
MODS zone 2 | Sadarghat | Non-pathogenic bacteria |
MODS zone 4 | West Kazipara, Mirpur | Total and fecal coliform, E. coli |
MODS zone 5 | -------- | Chlorine |
MODS zone 6 | ------------ | Chlorine |
MODS zone 7 | Shanir Akhra, Goalbari, Dania | Total coliform, non-pathogenic bacteria |
MODS zone-3, 8, 9 and 10 | ---------------- | Iron |
Other sources: Samples collected from Sayedabad 1, Sayedabad 2, Chadnighat SWTPs and one deep tubewell shows presence of bacteriological contamination. Sample from Chadnighat SWTPs shows high level of colour. This may be because of the plant takes water from surface of the river Buriganga.