Dhaka residents battle insect-infested water, Wasa shrugs off blame

Highlights: TBS

Residents in several areas of Dhaka are grappling with a serious water crisis as insects and worms are being found in its supplied water. Despite repeated complaints, the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) has denied responsibility, leaving thousands to suffer with dirty and unsafe water.

Public health experts are sounding alarms, warning that water issues are affecting large parts of the city, with diarrhoea cases on the rise. They stress that the problem must be addressed urgently, and Wasa cannot avoid its responsibility.

Abul Hasan, a resident of Dilu Road in New Eskaton, shared his troubling experience, saying, "At first, I thought it was just dirt, but then I saw tiny worms and insects in the water. We can't drink it, cook with it, or even bathe properly."

He added, "After noticing the problem, we told our house owner. He cleaned the water tank, but the insects didn't stop coming. We also complained to Wasa, but they didn't take any action."

Mohammad Emranul Islam, executive engineer of Dhaka Wasa's Maintenance Operation Distribution and Services (MODS) Zone-6, dismissed the complaints. "We checked and double-checked the water transmission pipelines in the complaint areas, but found no fault on Wasa's side," he told The Business Standard.

He added, "The problem might be in the water tanks or pipelines inside the houses. Our inspection did not find any insects or water issues in Wasa's supply."

Similar complaints have surfaced in Kallyanpur's Road-13 area, where resident Naimur Rahman Nabil said, "My family members have been suffering from skin diseases for the past week. The Wasa water was full of insects, and the itchiness was unbearable. We had to switch to bottled water. Even after cleaning our water tank, the problem didn't go away."

The issue extends beyond New Eskaton and Kallyanpur, with complaints from Shewrapara, Mohakhali, Bangla Motor, Tejgaon, Malibagh, Mogbazar, Modhubagh, Khilgaon, Banasree, Bashabo, and many other areas.

Khan Mohammad Mamun, a resident of Banasree, remarked, "Small earthworms are found in the water in almost every house around us. We complained to Wasa, but the problem hasn't been solved."

Abdul Alim, a resident of Tilpapara in Khilgaon, echoed similar concerns, as did Nazmul Tapan from Modhubagh, who said, "For the last 10 or 11 days, insects have been crawling in the Wasa-supplied water in our area, especially around Khejur Gaach Gali area. Wasa officials visited and saw the problem, but the number of insects has only increased."

As frustration grows, local residents are calling for immediate action. "If Wasa doesn't fix this, we'll have to protest," they warned.

Wasa's response

Dhaka Wasa, however, has maintained that the issue lies with the residents' water storage tanks. In a recent notice, Wasa claimed that the problem is due to dirty underground and rooftop water tanks and suggested that cleaning these tanks would resolve the issue. But many residents have reported that the problem persists even after following Wasa's advice.

Mohammad Badrul Alam, executive engineer of Dhaka Wasa's MODS Zone-4, reiterated that no faults were found in the Wasa pipelines.

"We didn't find any problems with Wasa's pipeline. After receiving complaints, we visited several houses in Kallyanpur and confirmed that the complaints were true. However, the water in our pipelines was clean and free of germs. In most houses, insects were found breeding in their water tanks," he told TBS.

"Since the water in the pipeline flows continuously, it's unlikely that insects could breed inside. However, we are continuing our investigation to identify any other possible sources of the problem," he added.

Dhaka Wasa Deputy Managing Director (Operation & Maintenance) AKM Shahid Uddin told TBS, "In the past few days, we've received at least 40 complaints about this water issue. We sent teams to inspect each location, but found no problems with the water from our pipelines.

"Our treated water is mixed with chlorine before distribution, so even if there were insects, they shouldn't survive."

He added, "The water from our treatment plants is tested regularly, and we haven't found this issue anywhere. We supply 285 to 290 crore litres of water daily across Dhaka, and we're only receiving complaints from a few areas. In most cases, the problem seems to be with the water reservoirs in individual homes."

A Dhaka Wasa official, speaking anonymously, told TBS, "During this time of year, river water often contains fouler odour and insects, so extra chemicals are used during treatment. If there's an issue in the process, water with an unpleasant smell might enter the pipeline.

"Additionally, there are leaks in Wasa's pipelines in many areas, which could cause such problems. Illegal connections might also be contributing to water quality issues."

Public health experts, however, argue that if insects are entering the pipelines, it suggests cracks or poor maintenance in Wasa's distribution system. "Insects breeding inside water pipes indicate breaches where external contaminants are entering," said Lenin Chowdhury, a public health expert and environmentalist.

"Waterborne diseases affect every resident of the city. People suffer from diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis, skin diseases, and other health issues due to water problems. Recently, the number of diarrhoea patients in Dhaka's hospitals has increased. Even if it requires strong action, this ongoing issue with Wasa must be resolved. We need to take measures before it turns into an epidemic," he told TBS.

"Ensuring safe drinking water, from production to the dining table, is Wasa's responsibility. But over the years, those in charge have turned Wasa into a place of corruption and mismanagement. It's time to make a complete reform. If necessary, the entire budget should be frozen and handed over to the local government," he added.

Doctors warn that using insect-infested water can lead to skin infections, stomach diseases, and other health risks. Consuming such water can cause severe gastrointestinal problems, especially in children.