Water supplied through pipelines in the houses, offices, hotels and restaurants of Rajshahi city through the Water and Sewerage Authority of Rajshahi is unsafe for human consumption. The water contains harmful Total Coliform bacteria and the human Faecal Coliform bacteria.
It is learnt, recently the water of WASA was tested at the laboratory of Public Health Engineering department in Rajshahi and the water was found contaminated by the harmful Coliform bacteria, sludges and other harmful microbes, confirmed Senior Chemist of PHE Shafiqul Islam. However, no official of RWASA agreed to make any comment in this connection.
Chemist Shafiqul Islam informed water supplied through pipeline of WASA contains Total Coliform bacteria.
He said drinking water must be free from this bacteria but water of WASA contains 200 to 1,000 quantities of the bacteria.
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Abdul Halim Tolstoy, Secretary of RWASA in this connection said,' it is a technical issue and the department of Engineering would inform about the issue.' However, Parvez Mamud, Chief Engineer of RWASA did not agree to make any comment on the issue. He said,' The Managing Director would inform about this issue.'
Zakir Hossain, Managing Director of RWASA did not receive a mobile phone call that is why it was not possible to get any comment in this connection.
PHE Senior Chemist Shafiqul Islam further said, the water of WASA also contains a small amount of abhorrent faecal coliform bacteria derived from human and animal faeces but, the presence of Total Coliform bacteria is abnormally higher that is why the water is unfit for drinking. Drinking of this water would make any person ill.
He further mentioned the bacteria mainly contaminate the water through leaked pipe lines. He said due to ongoing construction works throughout the city, the water supply pipelines are often being cracked and the water is being contaminated by bacteria. He said before drinking water from WASA, people should make sure that there is no leakage of the pipeline anywhere.
Nur Islam Tushar, Superintending Engineer of RCC informed pipelines of WASA are put only 8 to 12 inches deep underground.
As a result, the pipes are cracked during construction of roads and making of drains beside the roads. He, however, suggested the pipelines of WASA should be set up at least three-feet deep under the ground.