Staff Reporter :
Presence of coronavirus germ has been found in Dhaka’s sewerage water and muddy areas. The virus was found in 56 percent of drainage water and 53 percent of muddy areas. However, no coronavirus germ was found in Dhaka WASA’s supplied purified water.
A study report jointly conducted by the International Center for Diarrhoea Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and Dhaka WASA disclosed the information in the city’s WASA Bhaban on Monday.
The study on ‘Drainage and other sources of contaminated surface water and purified water for the presence of SARS Cove-2 in and around Dhaka city’, was completed in six months from August 2020 to January 2021. The research study was completed led by ICDDR,B’s Emeritus scientist Dr Sirajul Islam.
Samples were collected from Dhaka WASA’s Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant, Basabo Sewerage Pumping Station, Surface water of Dhaka city, two ponds of Dhaka University, Mirpur Mazar pond and water of Buriganga and Turag rivers.
The results of the study showed that the virus was not found in WASA’s supplied purified water. At the same time, coronavirus germs were also not found in the ponds and rivers water too.
Managing Director of WASA Taqsim A. Khan said, “Not only the study has not been carried out in the traditional way, but it has been carried out to bring out the real situation. We have seen the issue of continuing life and livelihood as well as washing hands to observe hygiene during coronavirus pandemic. The study was conducted jointly with ICDDR,B to see is there any coronavirus germ in WASA water. Hopefully, we are sure that there is no presence of coronavirus germ in the Dhaka WASA supplied water.”
However, the LGRD Minister Md. Tajul Islam suggested the concerned authorities for taking measures so that no other virus with coronavirus can mix in WASA water.
There are still some waterborne diseases, the Minister said adding that the old pipelines in Dhaka have been replaced.
“If there are 2,000 people in an area, there are installed 2-4 inch lines. But later the people stood 20,000 there,” Tajul Islam said.
Therefore, it is necessary to identify all these areas and install appropriate pipes, the Minister said adding that the WASA supplied 100 per cent purified safe water.
