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April
22, 2000
Chittagong, Apr 21 (UNB) – A high level of
Coliform has been detected in the city’s water supplied by WASA,
making the city dwellers vulnerable to various waterborne diseases.
A recent survey conducted by Environment
Department revealed that the city’s 78 per cent water supplied by
WASA contains Coliform 300 times higher than the tolerant level.
Coliform is a group of bacteria that include
Salmonella, Arizona, Proleus and Shiglla.
According to physicians, waterborne diseases like
jaundice, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea may break out in the city
in an epidemic form unless effective measures are taken to ensure safe
water supply in the port city. It may also cause urinary track
infections and intestinal problems.
The Environment Department collected water
samples from Circuit House, Chittagong Club, CMP Bhaban and from some
hotels and restaurants of the city and tested those in its own
laboratory.
It collected 65 samples of water in three phases
in last two months and detected bacteria in 51 samples. It has brought
the matter to the notice of the concerned authorities through official
letters for necessary steps.
The doctors attributed the contamination of water
with highly infectious Coliform to broken water-supply lines and
irregular cleaning up of water tanks.
The highest 94 percent of bacteria were detected
in the waters of hotels and restaurants of the city. Some 190 bacteria
were found in each 100-milliliter of water.
When contacted a WASA engineer rejected the idea
of having bacteria in their waters and said their waters are made
bacteria free with chlorine before supply.
They said WASA water might be contaminated due to
unhygienic preservation of water in houses, offices, hotels and
restaurants.
Another survey conducted by a mobile team of the
Environment Dpartment in Brahmanbaria also found a dangerous level of
Coliform in supply water of the town.
Ten to 60 bacteria were detected in every
100-milliliter water of various offices, hotels and residences in the
town.
The mobile team conducted the survey in
Brahmanbaria during April 9 to 12 and collected samples from 17
government organisations, 23 hotels, restaurants and bakeries, 12
sweetmeat shops and five private offices.
According to Environment Preservation Rule 1997
and World Health Organization, drinking waters must be free from
bacteria.
The research findings of the department also
showed that tubewell water, which is considered safer than the supply
one, might be contaminated by Coliform if tube-wells remain unused for
long or its bottom remain muddy.
The easy way to have bacteria free water, the
researchers of the department said, to clean up water tanks with
bleaching powder every month.
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