Arsenic found in water of Tk 13 crore tubewell project in Saturia, iron in 60 percent

The government spent nearly Tk 13 crore installing deep tubewells to end the safe water crisis for village residents. But in Saturia, Manikganj, the water from those very tubewells contains arsenic and excessive iron. In some places the water is yellow, in others it is unfit to drink.

According to the upazila Department of Public Health Engineering, under the DPHE project 1,170 submersible deep tubewells and 18 community-based deep tubewells were installed in Saturia at a cost of nearly Tk 13 crore. Of that, about Tk 12 crore was allocated for the 1,170 tubewells and Tk 78 lakh for the 18 community-based tubewells.

Related sources claim that tests of water samples found the presence of arsenic and iron in about 60 percent of the tubewells.

There are allegations that contractors installed the tubewells without following the prescribed depth and construction method. Beneficiaries were also allegedly charged extra money.

Alinur Baks Ratan, a resident of Dargram Union, installed a deep tubewell at his home for 10 families. But residents cannot drink the water because it contains excessive arsenic and iron. They allege they received no solution even after informing the Department of Public Health Engineering. They claim the work was finished after installing pipes only 350 to 400 feet deep instead of the prescribed depth.

Anwar Hossain Pitu of Baltola village in Saturia Union installed another community-based tubewell for 10 families in his area. But that water, too, is yellow and contains arsenic and iron. Despite depositing Tk 10,000 into the government treasury in the hope of safe water, they have not received usable water. He alleges rules were not followed in installing the tubewell, which had an allocation of more than Tk 4.30 lakh, and that the contractor's people instead had to be given Tk 4,000 to 5,000, said to be for food.

At the home of Ripon Hossain in Khalilabad village of Baliati Union, a submersible tubewell was supposed to be installed at a depth of 500 feet, but the contractor's people finished the work after installing about 400 feet of pipe, saying they could not go deeper because of rock below. When the water later turned yellow and was tested, arsenic was detected in it. Ripon alleges no effective action was taken even after that.

Several beneficiaries, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the contractor's people demanded an extra Tk 4,000 to 5,000 during installation. They were told they would get good water if they paid, and would not if they did not.

Abul Hossain of the upazila said: 'If you bathe or wash clothes with water from this tubewell, the clothes are ruined. White clothes get yellow stains. So we have to bring water from outside for bathing and washing clothes.'

Rokeya Begum, a dermatologist at Saturia Upazila Health Complex, said drinking arsenic-contaminated water for a long time can cause various skin problems, rashes and a risk of cancer. Kidney and liver problems can also occur.

Azizul Hakim, engineer of the upazila Department of Public Health Engineering, said the quality of groundwater in most unions of Saturia is not good. Because of the condition of the water layer, arsenic- and iron-free water is not available in many cases. However, he claimed the project work was done according to the prescribed schedule. He also said the work was done in coordination between the contractor's people and the house owners.