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‘Safe water, safe life’

Published : Saturday, 22 March, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 940
Mohammad Ekramul Hasan Mridha
Imagine you have tospent three days without using any form of water, is it possible? Since waking up in the morning to before going to sleep at night water is a mandatory element for human beings. There is countless planet - stellar with different individual characteristics, among them the planet earth is blessed with water and lives. Before all, scientists search for the presence of water while starting research in newly discovered planet to know inexistence of lives. Thus, we can say, where there is water, life lies there. In other words, without water life cannot exist.

In our early age we learned two thirds of the planet earth area is covered by water. The question is among this vast amount of water how much is drinkable and usable by human. About 97.5% is saltwater which is nor useable where freshwater is only 2.5%. The freshwater is not ready to use, only 0.3% of fresh water is found on the surface on lakes, rivers and swamps. The rest of the freshwater is stored underground in aquifers and soil moisture.

In Bangladesh around 97% of the total population from rural areasdepends on groundwater another 3% people use surface water. In the capital city, Dhaka82% of the people use groundwater and the remaining 18% of people use treated surface water.

People mainly use freshwater for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene management. The minimum standard for those mentioned purposesper day for an adult person sets to 15 liters. Drinking purpose 3 liters, 6 liters for cooking (including washing cookeries and others) another 6 liters for hygiene maintenance.Lackingthe above-mentioned amount of safe water may cause health issues for us. Apart from that, a significant amount of bathing water is also mandatory. There are opportunities to improve the assurance of minimum standards both in urban and rural areas.

Accept sea water, long ago, the surface water sources were pure, fresh as treated water. The negative externality on water started just after the beginning of civilizations, fresh surface water is getting polluted rapidly. Industrialization brings economic growth along with pollution if proper measures are being excluded. Most of the countries are not willing to follow the guidelines of industrial waste management. In our country we have seen toxic chemicals being released in the drains and cannels which destroy aquatic lives and cause the reduction of agricultural productions. The adjacent cannels are pouring by industrial chemicals resulting in the water getting dark, this scenario is very common in our industrial areas which is a significant health hazard.


Some areas the water body receiving heavy metals from industries like, nickel, cadmium, lead and mercury. Rechargers found those metals including plastics in fish' stomach, having those fish are very harmful for human health. Swage and industrial by products also contribute to water pollution.

As we mainly drink the groundwater, we need to consume safe water otherwise health risks will occur. Unfortunately, groundwater is getting polluted by both man-made and natural causes. Excess use of pesticides and fertilizers can leach into the ground water. Groundwater can be contaminated by leaching from landfills and inappropriate septic system. On the other hand, naturally ground water may be polluted by the high presence of arsenic, manganese and iron. Salinity also makes fresh water unusable in the coastal areas.

Water has a significant contribution to the ecosystem that accelerates the national economic progress and regresses. Last few years Bangladesh suffers from heavy rainfall and receiving over amount of water from upstream neighboring countries which causes flash floods and floods that leads extensive natural damages, economic harm and loss of life. As geographically Bangladesh is located in low-lying delta region these sufferings are primitive, it is time to have own mechanism to control upstream water. Building dams and embankment with full control for not receiving unwanted water may be a way forward. Water flow management through dams and reservoirs is also very important, excavating river branches thus they can flow and able to hold excessive water caused by downpour.

Amid hundreds of challenges, we must ensure safe drinking water and water body management to survive, we already learned that, as much as we are hurtingnature, itdo not forget to repay. We must behave positively and accordingly with all elements of nature. To ensure the proper management of surface water we need to stop water pollution right now. Every industry should have its own mechanism to manage their own waste. Initially the waste management might seem costly but comparatively less price considering overall environmental loss. Similarly, ground water must be safe from being polluted. Mass awareness needs to spread among all to ensure stopping overusing of pesticides, fertilizers, unplanned landfills must be off and ensure proper septic system. Few unprivileged people around the country still drink unsafe or contaminated water; we should arrange safe drinking water for them. "Now" is high time to stand together against water pollution and making planet earth inhabitable.

The writer is a contributor



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