Dhaka Wasa water not causing diarrhoea, claims managing director

Amid concerns over the quality of water supplied by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, its chief has said that use of Wasa water is unrelated to the recent surge in diarrhoea cases.

Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan made the claim at a discussion at the National Press Club on Tuesday, according to media reports. 

Photo obtained from the internet shows Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club on Tuesday, April 5, 2022

“We are constantly in touch with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). As soon as they gave us the addresses of the 10 areas where diarrhoea cases have increased, we immediately lab-tested the water of those places… But we did not find any bacteria,” he said.

The Dhaka Wasa chief continued: “Even if there are any germs in the water, we use chlorine to kill or destroy them. Many times the chlorine does not reach all areas, but we have increased chlorine use in those places.”

He then reiterated that there is no link between the increase in diarrhoea patients in Dhaka and the use of water supplied by Wasa according to the lab tests. 

Patients undergoing treatment at icddr,b hospital Mehedi Hasan

With the seasons changing, several districts, including Dhaka, have reported an upsurge in diarrhoea cases.

Patient admission is crossing 1,000 almost every day at the icddr,b in the capital.

Besides the intense heat, the residents of Dhaka have raised questions about the quality of water supplied by Wasa in the current situation.