Effluent treatment plants at the fastest
Sunday, 1 July 2007
M M Ahmed
THE rivers that flow through and past Dhaka city are in extremely burdened conditions from the carefree discharge of all forms of untreated effluents in them. Recent newspaper photos highlighted prominently the very degraded water quality of these affected parts of the rivers. The waters have ceased to have any current in these places and appear like thick black liquids. Indeed, the waters here have lost any form of purity and, contain hardly any oxygen or aquatic life.
The restoration of the water quality of these rivers has become a great urgency in view of the fact that surface waters are being widely used for supplying in the city for household uses. Frequent reports have been appearing in the press about the poor quality of the water now being supplied by the DWASA (Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority). the DWASA supplied water is found to be smelly and muddy in many parts of the city and unfit for drinking. The authorities concerned on their part point to the unchecked pollution of the rivers from untreated discharge of effluents-- both human excrements and industrial wastes -- that make the tasks of purification extremely difficult these days.
Clearly, therefore, it is so very important to take up on emergency basis the works at different levels so that the discharge of pollutants in the rivers can be immediately and appropriately controlled. A report in the FE indicated recently that the relevant authorities are pushing the polluters, specially the operators of textile mills, to set up and operate effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The establishment of a central ETP for the purpose is also under consideration.
But such moves were also made in the past and nothing happened afterwards. Therefore, the greatest need this time is to do whatever should be done at the fastest within a short time-bound plan . This is expressly because public health is already under a severe stress from this score and could be affected on a bigger scale in the city even in the near future from not taking decisive actions in time. If too much time is wasted in considering different alternatives or in allowing the offenders to do what they should have done long ago, then that would mean exposing the health of the residents of the city to great risks. Thus, either the central ETP plan for the textile industries should be adopted and implemented at the soonest or individual ones must be set up similarly as quickly. There must not be any dithering in these matters.
THE rivers that flow through and past Dhaka city are in extremely burdened conditions from the carefree discharge of all forms of untreated effluents in them. Recent newspaper photos highlighted prominently the very degraded water quality of these affected parts of the rivers. The waters have ceased to have any current in these places and appear like thick black liquids. Indeed, the waters here have lost any form of purity and, contain hardly any oxygen or aquatic life.
The restoration of the water quality of these rivers has become a great urgency in view of the fact that surface waters are being widely used for supplying in the city for household uses. Frequent reports have been appearing in the press about the poor quality of the water now being supplied by the DWASA (Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority). the DWASA supplied water is found to be smelly and muddy in many parts of the city and unfit for drinking. The authorities concerned on their part point to the unchecked pollution of the rivers from untreated discharge of effluents-- both human excrements and industrial wastes -- that make the tasks of purification extremely difficult these days.
Clearly, therefore, it is so very important to take up on emergency basis the works at different levels so that the discharge of pollutants in the rivers can be immediately and appropriately controlled. A report in the FE indicated recently that the relevant authorities are pushing the polluters, specially the operators of textile mills, to set up and operate effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The establishment of a central ETP for the purpose is also under consideration.
But such moves were also made in the past and nothing happened afterwards. Therefore, the greatest need this time is to do whatever should be done at the fastest within a short time-bound plan . This is expressly because public health is already under a severe stress from this score and could be affected on a bigger scale in the city even in the near future from not taking decisive actions in time. If too much time is wasted in considering different alternatives or in allowing the offenders to do what they should have done long ago, then that would mean exposing the health of the residents of the city to great risks. Thus, either the central ETP plan for the textile industries should be adopted and implemented at the soonest or individual ones must be set up similarly as quickly. There must not be any dithering in these matters.