Accessing safe drinking water
Water woes. Photo: Munem Wasif/ Drik News
EVERY August, over the last four years, I have been participating in the World Water Week convened by Swedish authorities in Stockholm. I have been doing so in my capacity as Vice President of the Bangladesh Water Partnership. This has provided me with the opportunity to appreciate different facets associated with fresh water usage-production, access, delivery and storage. The annual conference has also expanded my vision regarding non-navigational uses of international watercourses and the importance of water within the context of climate variability. Different sessions have also underlined the significance of a sustainable environment and integrity within the water network. This year was another learning experience. There was an intensive discussion on different aspects related to drinking water consumption. Professor Kenneth M. Persson, an engineer from Lund University, Sweden opened many windows in this regard. I took special interest on this topic because of the drinking water situation in Bangladesh, especially in its urban environment. Usable drinking water is the most basic requirement for human survival and yet probably one of the most neglected in terms of assuring accessibility, safety and selection of sources. The state of affairs is further compounded because of unreliable service conditions that sometimes force inhabitants to employ alternative providers or arrange for less sanitary long-term storage of water in household tanks. Distrust of municipal water quality has also led to relying on expensive bottled water. It would be an oversimplification to state that water is essential not only for meeting vital human needs but also for addressing poverty, economic development, health and hygiene. This however presupposes the development of integrated management of water resources. Water has been described as the only food item that a human being needs daily. WHO in 2003 recommended domestic water managers to design a per capita water supply of more than 100 liters per day of tap water to consumers in order to allow the consumer a healthy, hygienic and pleasant life. This figure would be higher if John Anthony Allan's 'virtual water' calculations were to be followed. It may be mentioned here that virtual water calculations sum up all the water needed for producing all commodities that we use-like clothing and food besides the actual water intake. Water quality demands vary with where the water is consumed and for which end use the water is directed. This factor has led to national guidelines and standards being developed in different countries according to its socio-cultural, environmental and economic conditional requirements. In 1982, WHO published its "Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality". Unfortunately, it is rarely observed, especially in the developing countries. Resource constraints and lack of sufficient technical personnel are commonly given as excuses. In the EU, the concept of water quality is very well defined in the European Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998. Its objective is to protect human health from the adverse effects of any contamination of water intended for human consumption. This is done by ensuring that the water is clean and wholesome. Acceptable drinking water has to be free from microorganisms and parasites and from any substances, which in numbers or concentration constitute a potential danger to human health. It also has to be within specific minimum requirements pertaining to microbiological, physical and chemical parameters. Compared to this, any examination of water delivered in the cities of Bangladesh by the Water and Sewerage Authority will indicate, more likely than not, failure in meeting consistent standards. The public perception is that our water quality is poor and more often than not the principal cause for different health problems. Organic and inorganic substances as well as chemical content, most of the time, affect water's transparency, its odour and its taste. Those in charge of management of our water delivery has argued that the quality of water at the tap point suffers not because of their failure in preparing the water for consumption but because of run down water delivery pipe systems. Such a defence is totally unacceptable. I think time has come for us to create a Drinking Water Consumers Association which can be charged with the responsibility of monitoring drinking water as delivered in different parts of our cities. There needs to be regular laboratory inspections and if the quality is found wanting, those in charge of production and delivery should be taken to task. To me, providing contaminated water for drinking is a violation of my fundamental rights. In recent times we have seen the emergence of the bottled water industry in Bangladesh. This is consistent with the global trend and has grown out of the psychological fear that water available from taps are not fit for consumption without further treatment (boiling or filtration). With this, we share the habit of many others both in the developed world (Italy, Belgium, France, Spain and Mexico) and also in the developing world. Unfortunately, even in this sector we are behind the others in terms of regulatory commitment. Greed seems to have taken over and has led to the discovery of dishonest producers marketing bottled water in Bangladesh which do not meet the stated requirements. Some even take water straight from the tap and then bottle and sell it as boiled and filtered water. This is partially due to the fact that our monitoring mechanism is faulty. It is time we took our access to drinking water seriously. The only way to move forward is to enhance consumer awareness. It is also important that our concerned authorities be forced to take responsibility for water-borne diseases being linked to poor water quality. An affected consumer should be able to take the related agency or producer (in cases of bottled water) to Court for indemnification for loss caused. Such a scenario will then ensure that complaints are addressed and measures taken to redress the situation. We have a serious situation in our hands. The matter has become more complex because of the fast depletion of our groundwater resource base (leading to fall of water tables in aquifers) and the paucity of water treatment plants. The daily demand for potable water in Dhaka and Narayanganj now stands at about 2.1 billion liters against a supply of about 1.9 billion liters. It was only 60 million liters in 1970. This has necessitated the sinking of 523 deep tube wells; this figure was only 47 in 1970. This over-extraction of ground water and less recharge from sealing of surface soil has made things more intricate. Our LGRD Ministry in conjunction with the LGED will have to give serious attention to this issue in its entirety. A comprehensive approach needs to be undertaken. It will require major financial outlay and infrastructural overhaul. One way might be to raise funds by privatising this important utility sector. This will, in all probability, also usher in accountability and desired transparency. Time is of the essence. Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net
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