The Daily Star    Volume 3 Number 893     Tue. March 12, 2002 


       Harmful heavy metals

      Drinking water samples now to be tested regularly



      Star Report


      Drinking water samples collected from across the country will henceforth 
      be tested regularly for harmful heavy metals to ensure supply of safe 
      water. 

      The decision was taken at a recent meeting at the office of the Department 
      of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) following a report in The Daily 
      Star on February 20, sources said.

      The report headlined 'Drinking Death in Groundwater' said a wide range of 
      heavy metals including uranium, boron, manganese, sulphur and barium were 
      detected in drinking water samples collected from hand-pumped tubewells. 
      Tests of 3,534 random samples collected from 61 districts, done in a 
      laboratory in UK, showed presence of some of the metals much above 
      WHO-prescribed safe levels. The tests were sponsored jointly by the 
      British Geological Survey and the DPHE.

      Currently, the DPHE tests drinking water for pH factor, iron, chloride, 
      manganese, arsenic, hardness and electric conductivity. The tests are not 
      done on regular basis.

      The meeting attended by water experts from different agencies including 
      DPHE decided to regularly test groundwater samples collected both from 
      hand-pumped and deep tubewells for the heavy metals detected in 
      groundwater so far. 

      The tests will be done in four DPHE laboratories and a protocol will be 
      prepared soon for this. 

      Dr Firoz Ahmed of BUET who attended the meeting said, "We thought the 
      newspaper report was quite alarming and took serious note of it. On the 
      basis of the report, we have decided to form a protocol that will include 
      a wide range of heavy metals and chemicals for test". 

      A senior DPHE engineer who also attended the meeting said, "In fact, till 
      now, Bangladesh has no protocol for testing drinking water. This is for 
      the first time a protocol is being prepared following a newspaper report."
      A copy of the Daily Star report was distributed among the participants at 
      the meeting.

      Dr Firoz Ahmed of BUET, Rodny Dyar of DFID (Department for International 
      Development) of UK, S M Ihtishamul Huq from DPHE, Dr Han Heinen from WHO, 
      Colin Davis and Roger Boom from Unicef and Dr Ishita Takaku from JICA 
      Japan International Cooperation (Agency) attended the meeting.

      A committee was formed at the meeting with Khorshed Alam, DPHE 
      Superintending Engineer, as the convenor. Within two months, the committee 
      will suggest the protocol which will include the heavy metals to be tested 
      and frequency of tests.

      The committee will also submit a report on strengthening the existing 
      laboratories of DPHE for the new tests, and annual budget for this.