Need for accurate survey of surface water stressed

Speakers at an open discussion have stressed the need for collective efforts for conducting an accurate survey on surface water and ensuring safe water from source to consumers to protect the city dwellers from various waterborne diseases.They noted that all the authorities concerned should work together in this regard as getting safe water is a fundamental right of the people irrespective of creed and caste.Rajshahi Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) organized the discussion marking presentation of feasibility study report of its proposed Surface Water Treatment Plant Project held at Hotel Mukta International in the city yesterday afternoon.Former mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addressed the discussion as chief guest with Dhirendra Nath Sarker, managing director of Rajshahi WASA, in the chair.Chief Executive Officer of RCC Ajahar Ali, Pro-VC of Rajshahi University Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan and Dean of Civil Engineering Faculty of RUET Prof Dr Iqbal Matin spoke as special guests.During his keynote presentation, Parvez Mamud, Superintending Engineer of RWASA, gave an overview of the proposed project and the city’s water supply management and its existing problems and prospects.He told the audience that the main objectives of the project are to ensure safe drinking water through good water supply practice for substantial and sustainable prevention of water sources contamination.Besides, the scheme intends to treat the water to reduce or remove contamination to the extent necessary to meet the water quality target. There is also a provision of preventing re-contamination during storage, distribution and handling of drinking water.The discussants said the Rajshahi WASA should provide safe water to consumers through improved management, standard operations and proper maintenance of the system. So, emphasis should be given to creation of awareness among customers about water quality and active participation in establishing water treatment plant.
Time has come to establish water quality monitoring and reporting framework for operational monitoring and feasibility study verification, they added.Former RCC Mayor Liton commented that necessary measures should be taken to make the water supply system sustainable through improvement of water sources management to enhance the living condition of hardcore poor people.There is no way but to improve the health as well as reduce medical cost of the city dwellers, he added. -BSS, Rajshahi