Drinking Death in Groundwater: Arsenic Contamination as a Threat to Water Security for Bangladesh
Last updated: July 30, 2008
Author
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Mustafa Moinuddin
Student, Master of International Law and Economics
World Trade Institute
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ACDIS Occasional Paper series
May 2004
Full text [PDF]
Summary
This paper analyzes the nature, causes and consequences of arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh and the available mitigation options. The paper is divided into several parts. Part One looks at the geophysical and demographic aspects of Bangladesh and then at the drinking water supply scenario in the country. The second part of the paper devotes itself to discussing the background and origin of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. Part Three analyzes the threat that the high level of arsenic in drinking water poses to the people, examining the consequences for health as well as on society and considers possible contamination of the food chain. In Part Four, the paper looks at occurrences of arsenic in other countries. Part Five reviews and analyzes ways to face the challenge of arsenic contamination. This part also documents some of the most-recommended options for the provision of safe drinking water. Part Six puts forward recommendations as to how to deal with the problem of arsenic in Bangladesh, how to find appropriate and cost effective safe water supply options and thus to ensure, at least partially, water security for Bangladesh. Finally, the concluding remarks in Part Seven advocate a definite role for the government of Bangladesh in combating the arsenic menace, but at the same time emphasize the involvement of local communities in any program related to arsenic mitigation. Moreover, it reiterates that in order to ensure drinking water security, the focus should not only be on the mitigation of arsenic, but the provision in general of safe drinking water that is free from any kind of contamination, be it biological or chemical.
