The Daily Star April 07, 2003 


      Arsenic in water of 60 pc tubewells in Meherpur



      BSS, Meherpur


      Water of 60 per cent (pc) tubewells in three upazilas and two 
      municipalities of Meherpur is arsenic contaminated, official sources said.
      The Department of Public Health Engineering Department (DPHE) conducted a 
      survey in water of 3,975 out of 7,995 tubewells and found waters arsenic 
      contaminated.
      DPHE has marked the arsenic affected tubewells and advised people of the 
      area not to drink water of the red marked tubewells. But people are using 
      water of these tubewells as there is no other alternative source of 
      drinking water in the affected villages.
      According to World Health Organisation (WHO) 0.05 mg arsenic per litre of 
      water is the tolerable unit for Bangladesh. But sample collected from 
      different parts of Meherpur indicated that the high percentage of arsenic 
      contents like that of 0.51 mg to 0.56 mg in tubewells' water is extremely 
      dangerous for public health.
      Non-availability of medicine and kit box in the local DPHE offices for 
      testing arsenic contamination in tubewells water increased the sufferings 
      of people. 
      A survey recorded that ring-well popularly known as 'patkua' is free from 
      arsenic contamination.
      Local people have urged the authorities concerned to conduct arsenic test 
      free of cost and set up ring-well in the affected villages.