How safe is tubewell water?

Nepalgunj, Dec. 20 (RSS): Arsenic chemical has been found in the water of 16 out of 554 tubewells tested by Nepal Red Cross Society, Banke.

Banke District Red Cross Society had installed 733 tubewells at 33 village development committees of Banke district during FY 2043/44 to FY 051/52 under the drinking water and sanitation programme.

Under the drinking water quality upgrading programme, Banke District Red Cross has started testing bacteria and arsenic chemical in the underground water of the tubewells installed by it free of cost and others at the rate of Rs. 200 per tubewell.

Arsenic water which is devoid of taste and ordour is considered as a slow poison for the human body if it accumulates in huge quantity inside the body.

The continuous consumption of arsenic water leads to "arsenicosis" which develops in human body within two to eight years.

Since eight tubewells at Titihiriya, Holiya and Bankatuwa VDCs, and one at Fattehwal Eye Hospital, Nepalgunj produce arsenic water with over 50 P. P. B. (0.05 milligram per litre), suggestions have been given to the local people to close down such tubewells, Ishwar Regmi, deputy senior officer at Banke District Red Cross Society told rss.

Similarly, the people living at Sitapur, Holiya, Betahani, Kamdi and Radhapur as well as in the periphery of Fattehwal Eye Hospital have been warned not to use water of some 10 tubewells in the locality. The water of two tubewells at Fattehwal Eye Hospital and the remaining eight at the four VDCs have been found containing arsenic level between 30 to 50 P.P.B. per litre.

As per the standard set by the World Health Organisation, underground water that contains 0.01 milligram per litre is considered safe for consumption by human beings.

However, water containing arsenic up to 0.05 milligram per litre is considered safe in South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh. As there is no standard set so far, for Nepal, the standard pursued by both the neighbouring countries is considered the standard for underground water in Nepal.

If one accumulates arsenic in excess of his or her metabolism, melanin will increase beneath the skin in the first stage causing blackening of the skin colour.

In the second stage, glands will appear in the palm and feet which will eventually lead to cancer or some other kind of dangerous diseases.

Banke District Red Cross Society has distributed domestic water filter for every 40 families and a arsenic removal plant for a whole community to purify the water that contains arsenic over 50 P.P.B. following the test of water.

The Banke Red Cross has come up with this programme in association with Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO).

Other Story

• Ground water extraction, control policy sought