Water, Arsenic, Ecosystem And Environmental Disasters In Bangladesh Meer Husain , USA
In 1999 in the article "GROUNDWATER ARSENIC POISONING AND A SOLUTION TO THE ARSENIC DISASTER IN BANGLADESH." we stated that "The groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh is a recent environmental episode. It appears to be directly related to the Farakka, Teesta and other dams/barrages that India constructed in the Bangladesh and India's common rivers. The arsenic contamination in Bangladesh began after 1975. The lowering of the water table resulted in the exposure to air in the zone of aeration. This exposure resulted in the oxidation of arsenic minerals previously present below the water table in the Bengal sediments.
The arsenic oxides migrated to the groundwater and were reduced to the poisonous forms in the reducing environments below the water table. The natural groundwater flow that existed prior to 1975 should be restored by removing all dams/barrages that India constructed in the common rivers of Bangladesh and India. The removal of dams/barrage and the dredging of rivers will decrease the number of disasters in both Bangladesh and in the upstream region of India. The flushing of arsenic contaminants may take a long time but the removal of dams/barrages affecting Bangladesh will provide plenty of water during the dry season for drinking, irrigation and industry. The river water should be filtered, treated, continually tested and delivered through a closed system to provide a safe water supply for the nation."
We have achieved our conclusion mentioned above through our institutional training, working experience in dealing with numerous soil and groundwater contamination projects, protection of water resources and protection of health and safety of people as well as our experience with the ecosystem and environment from the soil and groundwater contamination problems and geological, hydrological and hydrogeological and geochemical knowledge of Bangladesh. Some of the scientists who promoted the "Natural Disaster Theory" for the creation of arsenic disaster in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India opposed the "Recent man- made disaster theory" proposed by our team. Now after a decade they are simply repeating our theories involving the use of surface water for maintaining the normal and natural environment in Bangladesh.
The harvesting of river water and over pumping of groundwater both in Bangladesh and West Bengal has created arsenic and other environmental disasters. We think that the environmentalists as well as the government of these nations should immediately take the necessary steps to re-evaluate all available data to justify the validity of the source and cause of the arsenic disaster in Bengal Basin. Those who advocate the natural disaster theory previously failed to present any reliable data that support the natural disaster theory for the creation of arsenic disaster in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Currently, they are still unable to adequately support their stance. We have repeatedly stated that prior to 1975 the magnitude of the problems listed below were not known:
1. Groundwater Arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
2. Severe Floods(1988 and 1998)
3. Depletion of Surface Water Resources
4. Depletion of Groundwater Resources
5. Desertification
6. Extinction of aquatic species.
7. Impact on fish industry
8. Drop of organic matter content in the soil.
9. Destruction of Agriculture and Horticulture
10. Inland saline water intrusion
11. Loss of navigable waterways
12. Riverbank erosion
13. Climate change
14. Loss of professions
15. Outbreak of environmental diseases
16. Land subsidence (from water table lowering)
17. Social unsuitability due to symptoms of arsenic poisoning
All of these problems mentioned above are directly related to the harvesting of river water. How can an environmentalist working in Bangladesh fail to understand the validity behind these conflicts? Those who believe the "Natural disaster theory" also claimed that arsenic removal filtration systems were the best solutions to arsenic disaster, but they failed to understand the dangers of indiscriminate disposal of arsenic waste/sludge/residuals in the environment. If the indiscriminate disposal of arsenic waste from the Sono and other arsenic removal filters and treatment units continues to occur, this improper disposal method will eventually cripple the entire civilization of the Bengal delta. We believe that those who have been working to solve the arsenic disaster have good intentions in mind.
Unfortunately, their efforts are augmenting the effects of arsenic disaster and it is vital to remember that we have to follow the correct scientific methods and fully avoid unprofessional activities. We have provided Dr. Hussam with the adequate data that disproves his arsenic waste disposal method. It is necessary for him to take the necessary steps to correct his disposal method before it becomes a conflict too challenging to handle.
The information presented in the article below(Fall in groundwater level may cause landslide in city,NFB,April 19, 2007) should be taken seriously by every citizen of Bangladesh because Bangladesh is located in the earthquake prone zone. If an earthquake occurs with a magnitude of 6.5-7.0, it may cause severe damage to this impoverished nation at any time. The high rise buildings, bridges, road and underground utilities will suffer severe damages including huge human and property loss. The govt. and politicians of Bangladesh should take immediate necessary measures to maintain a natural healthy environment for all citizens of Bangladesh.
Respectfully submitted by:
Meer Husain, P.G., Env. Geologist,USA, Leslie Berryhill, Env. Biologist, USA, Earnest Morrison, Exploration Geologist, USA, Bhuiyan O. Hoque, Env. Geologist, Bangladesh, B.H. Chowdhury, Env. Geologist, Bangladesh, Mir Fazlul karim, Eng. Geologist, USA, Dr. Miah Adel, Env. Physicist,USA, Dr. Mahbub Alam, Irrigation Engineer,USA, Dr. M. Riajul Islam, Env. Geologist, USA, Cowley College International Arsenic, Water, Ecosystem and Environmental Research Center, Kansas, USA.
Fall in groundwater level may cause landslide in city,NFB,April 19, 2007
The declining groundwater level and aquifer dewatering in Dhaka metropolitan area. The groundwater level in Dhaka is dipping because of a massive extraction of water from underground, according to a recent study. Experts said that the groundwater level was declining by up to three metres every year, posing a threat of landslide.(Bdnews24.com)
According to a report, 'The declining groundwater level and aquifer dewatering in Dhaka metropolitan area, Bangladesh: causes and quantification,' the contribution of the aquifer storage to abstraction was estimated to be more than 15 per cent in 2002.
The extraction caused a sharp drop leading to two cones of depression in water level, the study says.
Upper parts of the aquifer are already dewatered throughout the area, except for swathes of northeast and southeast corners.
MA Haque, of the Department of Petroleum and Geo Resources Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, M Mozammel Hoque, of the Institute of Water and Flood Management of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed, of the Department of Geology of Dhaka University, conducted the study.
About 4.1 crore cubic metres of the aquifer dewatered until 1988, which increased to 227.2 crore cubic metres in 2002. Speaking to the news agency on Friday, Matin said: "The groundwater level was declining at an alarming rate. Dewatering was spreading to neighbouring areas too."
Dewatering widened by 55 times in 20 years. Matin stressed increasing the use of surface water to cut pressure on groundwater.
Information available on the web site of the Water and Sewerage Authority for Dhaka shows that up to 180 crore litres of water is pumped out in Dhaka and Narayanganj a day. Demand for water is even higher.
Rayhanul Abedin, managing director of the Dhaka WASA, told the news agency that 86 per cent of the water or 152 crore litres is groundwater. He said that the use of surface water had begun and hoped that up 100 crore litres of surface water would be supplied a day by 2015.
MA Karim, director of the Water Development Board, said the board had 1,250 deep tube wells in the country for observation. There are a total of 11 lakh ( 1.1 million ) shallow tube wells across the country. He said water was not available at some points in Dhaka in the dry season.
Meer Husain, USA
E Mail :matribhumi_bd@yahoo.com
The arsenic oxides migrated to the groundwater and were reduced to the poisonous forms in the reducing environments below the water table. The natural groundwater flow that existed prior to 1975 should be restored by removing all dams/barrages that India constructed in the common rivers of Bangladesh and India. The removal of dams/barrage and the dredging of rivers will decrease the number of disasters in both Bangladesh and in the upstream region of India. The flushing of arsenic contaminants may take a long time but the removal of dams/barrages affecting Bangladesh will provide plenty of water during the dry season for drinking, irrigation and industry. The river water should be filtered, treated, continually tested and delivered through a closed system to provide a safe water supply for the nation."
We have achieved our conclusion mentioned above through our institutional training, working experience in dealing with numerous soil and groundwater contamination projects, protection of water resources and protection of health and safety of people as well as our experience with the ecosystem and environment from the soil and groundwater contamination problems and geological, hydrological and hydrogeological and geochemical knowledge of Bangladesh. Some of the scientists who promoted the "Natural Disaster Theory" for the creation of arsenic disaster in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India opposed the "Recent man- made disaster theory" proposed by our team. Now after a decade they are simply repeating our theories involving the use of surface water for maintaining the normal and natural environment in Bangladesh.
The harvesting of river water and over pumping of groundwater both in Bangladesh and West Bengal has created arsenic and other environmental disasters. We think that the environmentalists as well as the government of these nations should immediately take the necessary steps to re-evaluate all available data to justify the validity of the source and cause of the arsenic disaster in Bengal Basin. Those who advocate the natural disaster theory previously failed to present any reliable data that support the natural disaster theory for the creation of arsenic disaster in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Currently, they are still unable to adequately support their stance. We have repeatedly stated that prior to 1975 the magnitude of the problems listed below were not known:
1. Groundwater Arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
2. Severe Floods(1988 and 1998)
3. Depletion of Surface Water Resources
4. Depletion of Groundwater Resources
5. Desertification
6. Extinction of aquatic species.
7. Impact on fish industry
8. Drop of organic matter content in the soil.
9. Destruction of Agriculture and Horticulture
10. Inland saline water intrusion
11. Loss of navigable waterways
12. Riverbank erosion
13. Climate change
14. Loss of professions
15. Outbreak of environmental diseases
16. Land subsidence (from water table lowering)
17. Social unsuitability due to symptoms of arsenic poisoning
All of these problems mentioned above are directly related to the harvesting of river water. How can an environmentalist working in Bangladesh fail to understand the validity behind these conflicts? Those who believe the "Natural disaster theory" also claimed that arsenic removal filtration systems were the best solutions to arsenic disaster, but they failed to understand the dangers of indiscriminate disposal of arsenic waste/sludge/residuals in the environment. If the indiscriminate disposal of arsenic waste from the Sono and other arsenic removal filters and treatment units continues to occur, this improper disposal method will eventually cripple the entire civilization of the Bengal delta. We believe that those who have been working to solve the arsenic disaster have good intentions in mind.
Unfortunately, their efforts are augmenting the effects of arsenic disaster and it is vital to remember that we have to follow the correct scientific methods and fully avoid unprofessional activities. We have provided Dr. Hussam with the adequate data that disproves his arsenic waste disposal method. It is necessary for him to take the necessary steps to correct his disposal method before it becomes a conflict too challenging to handle.
The information presented in the article below(Fall in groundwater level may cause landslide in city,NFB,April 19, 2007) should be taken seriously by every citizen of Bangladesh because Bangladesh is located in the earthquake prone zone. If an earthquake occurs with a magnitude of 6.5-7.0, it may cause severe damage to this impoverished nation at any time. The high rise buildings, bridges, road and underground utilities will suffer severe damages including huge human and property loss. The govt. and politicians of Bangladesh should take immediate necessary measures to maintain a natural healthy environment for all citizens of Bangladesh.
Respectfully submitted by:
Meer Husain, P.G., Env. Geologist,USA, Leslie Berryhill, Env. Biologist, USA, Earnest Morrison, Exploration Geologist, USA, Bhuiyan O. Hoque, Env. Geologist, Bangladesh, B.H. Chowdhury, Env. Geologist, Bangladesh, Mir Fazlul karim, Eng. Geologist, USA, Dr. Miah Adel, Env. Physicist,USA, Dr. Mahbub Alam, Irrigation Engineer,USA, Dr. M. Riajul Islam, Env. Geologist, USA, Cowley College International Arsenic, Water, Ecosystem and Environmental Research Center, Kansas, USA.
Fall in groundwater level may cause landslide in city,NFB,April 19, 2007
The declining groundwater level and aquifer dewatering in Dhaka metropolitan area. The groundwater level in Dhaka is dipping because of a massive extraction of water from underground, according to a recent study. Experts said that the groundwater level was declining by up to three metres every year, posing a threat of landslide.(Bdnews24.com)
According to a report, 'The declining groundwater level and aquifer dewatering in Dhaka metropolitan area, Bangladesh: causes and quantification,' the contribution of the aquifer storage to abstraction was estimated to be more than 15 per cent in 2002.
The extraction caused a sharp drop leading to two cones of depression in water level, the study says.
Upper parts of the aquifer are already dewatered throughout the area, except for swathes of northeast and southeast corners.
MA Haque, of the Department of Petroleum and Geo Resources Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, M Mozammel Hoque, of the Institute of Water and Flood Management of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed, of the Department of Geology of Dhaka University, conducted the study.
About 4.1 crore cubic metres of the aquifer dewatered until 1988, which increased to 227.2 crore cubic metres in 2002. Speaking to the news agency on Friday, Matin said: "The groundwater level was declining at an alarming rate. Dewatering was spreading to neighbouring areas too."
Dewatering widened by 55 times in 20 years. Matin stressed increasing the use of surface water to cut pressure on groundwater.
Information available on the web site of the Water and Sewerage Authority for Dhaka shows that up to 180 crore litres of water is pumped out in Dhaka and Narayanganj a day. Demand for water is even higher.
Rayhanul Abedin, managing director of the Dhaka WASA, told the news agency that 86 per cent of the water or 152 crore litres is groundwater. He said that the use of surface water had begun and hoped that up 100 crore litres of surface water would be supplied a day by 2015.
MA Karim, director of the Water Development Board, said the board had 1,250 deep tube wells in the country for observation. There are a total of 11 lakh ( 1.1 million ) shallow tube wells across the country. He said water was not available at some points in Dhaka in the dry season.
Meer Husain, USA
E Mail :matribhumi_bd@yahoo.com
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