Field level reality about ETPs
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Unregulated discharge of the industrial effluents is contaminating waters of rivers and aquatic life in them and similarly spoiling underground water aquifers from seepage through soil. Soil affected by such discharge is also turning toxic and dangerous for any form of human use. Thus, the compulsory establishment of the effluent treatment plants (ETPs) by the industries cannot wait. But as a report in a section of the media sometime ago emphasized, a survey of the Department of the Environment (DOE) revealed that only 56 out of 466 surveyed industries by it in the Dhaka Division were found to be running ETPs. The greater number of the rest have not set up ETPs or are only faking that they have been operating such plants.
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 the affected parts of these rivers. The need for restoring the water quality of these rivers has become an urgency in view of the fact that surface waters from the rivers are being widely used for supplying in the city for household uses. But frequent reports appear in the press about the poor quality of the water supplied by the DWASA (Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority). The DWASA-supplied water is found to be smelly and dark in appearance in many parts of the city and unfit for drinking. The DWASA authorities 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. Recent newspaper reports indicated that the relevant authorities were 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 was also under consideration. But the realities at the field level as reflected in these reports, indicate that hardly any progress was achieved to these ends.
Shamshul Huda
Gulshan. Dhaka
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 the affected parts of these rivers. The need for restoring the water quality of these rivers has become an urgency in view of the fact that surface waters from the rivers are being widely used for supplying in the city for household uses. But frequent reports appear in the press about the poor quality of the water supplied by the DWASA (Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority). The DWASA-supplied water is found to be smelly and dark in appearance in many parts of the city and unfit for drinking. The DWASA authorities 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. Recent newspaper reports indicated that the relevant authorities were 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 was also under consideration. But the realities at the field level as reflected in these reports, indicate that hardly any progress was achieved to these ends.
Shamshul Huda
Gulshan. Dhaka