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Ctg city dwellers vulnerable to various waterborne diseases |
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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. |