MORE than 20 million people still face the problem of safe drinking water although the Awami League in its 2008 national elections manifesto, iterated in the 2014 manifesto, pledged safe drinking water for the entire population by 2011.
Yet salinity and arsenic contamination still remain major challenges for the government to meet seven years after the deadline.
The Department of Public Health Engineering seeks to claim that 87 per cent of the people have access to safe drinking water, considering the availability of water within 150 metres.
A public health engineering official is reported to be saying that a report in 2015 shows that 87 per cent of the people are under the safe water coverage, keeping to the Millennium Development Goals, but the same report in 2017 shows the coverage to benefit 56 per cent of the population as the Sustainable Development Goals has changed the definition of safe water.
WaterAid Bangladesh says that more than four million people are still out of the basic water coverage because of salinity, arsenic contamination and poor supply network.
Moreover, despite the government’s mitigation of arsenic contamination by a good measure, dropping from 23 per cent in 1993 to 12 per cent in 2014, salinity increased in a vast area that covers 19 districts.
The phenomenon, largely attributed to effects of climate change, forces a day-labourer who earns Tk 200 a day to spend Tk 20 on water every day.
A former DPHE chief engineer, referring to the multiple indicator cluster survey that the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF conduct, says that 1.90 million people living in 61 districts are still at risk of arsenic contamination.
A World Bank report in 2016 shows that 22 per cent of the tube wells of the country have arsenic contamination.
The ruling party’s election pledges about safe drinking water for all by 2011 have failed, as the government has not made much of efforts on the front, making them nothing but political rhetoric.

Third-generation Melbourne market gardener David Wallace is one of dozens of landholders who have been told to stop using water from the Maribyrnong River after toxic chemicals from firefighting foam were detected in runoff from Melbourne Airport.
Now he has been told to stop, after an EPA alert was issued on September 20, following tests for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals – known as PFAS – at Melbourne Airport and in nearby waterways.
The Department of Health maintains there is no consistent evidence the toxins cause “important” health effects, in contrast to the US EPA, which has concluded they are a human health hazard that – at high-enough levels – can cause immune dysfunction, hormonal interference and certain types of cancer.
Thirty-nine landholders with Melbourne Water diversion licences have been advised to stop using water from the Maribyrnong River as a precautionary measure until further testing could be done.
Testing on water, soil, plants and aquatic life by government authorities will assess any risk to the public posed by chemicals in the waterways.
Mr Wallace has reduced the amout of Maribyrnong water he used in recent years and was reluctant to grow anything in soil outside his greenhouses.
Diversion customers were notified on September 7 that PFAS had been found in soil and water at the airport, a spokesman said, and then again on September 17, after receiving further information from the airport and preliminary advice from the EPA.
Melbourne Airport said it was "really pleased" that the EPA and Melbourne Water were investigating the presence of PFAS in nearby waterways.
Last year the airport tested surface water and groundwater, as well as more than 800 soil samples, for PFAS, a spokesman said.
"These investigations found that PFAS contamination is concentrated in a few locations associated with the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams.

filled the Clark County Commission meeting Wednesday morning to voice concerns over a proposed lawsuit settlement that would have allowed a company to begin mining for limestone.
He said the public water is great in Clark County.
That’s for sure.” Donnelsville Water Issues The Environmental Protection Agency announced Donnelsville and its water issues have been put on a national list that allows the agency to provide federal funds to investigate and eliminate the problem of contaminated water.
Even with the filtration system, some residents said they are too concerned about the quality of the water to drink it.
“We don’t drink it or anything like that, so we’re still buying bottled water.” There has been action taken.
“The next step for new national priorities list sites such as the Donnelsville Contaminated Aquifer is to determine if there are any viable potentially responsible parties for the site,” a statement from the agency says.
“If there are no viable responsible parties or if the parties do not agree to conduct the remedial investigation or feasibility study, EPA initiates the procedures with federal funds, pending availability,” the agency said.
If at any time EPA discovers immediate acute threats to human health or the environment at our sites, we can initiate a removal cleanup actions to quickly address the problem.” The issue dates back decades, but in 2010 the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency tested multiple wells and found a chemical called PCE in 20 of them at concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant level of 5 micrograms per liter.
2010 REPORT: Solvent found in Donnelsville wells poses health risk The EPA did install drinking water treatment systems in 2011 at the homes and the community park.
Peterson said Enon and the Mad River are known for having good water quality, but said he’s concerned mining conducted by the company could lead to contamination or damage to the area’s aquifer.

Video ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Contaminated water in New York has been linked to major health problems in communities across the state.
Although the deadline for the first step in addressing this problem is approaching, environmental groups say little is being done.
"I have contracted bladder cancer and my wife has contracted bone and marrow cancer," Michelle O’Leary, Hoosick Falls resident and NYWaterProject member, said.
O’Leary is telling a friend’s story, but accounts like these have been coming out of communities like Hoosick Falls and Newburgh for years now.
A year ago, Governor Cuomo created the Drinking Water Quality Council that was tasked with the job of establishing the maximum amount of toxic chemicals that should be allowed in the water.
Even though the high level of toxins are known to cause health problems, there is no state limit that can manage these chemicals.
"The public has a basic right and expectation that they’re government is going to assure them that the water from their taps is safe and clean to drink.
So environmental groups are asking, what’s the holdup?
The Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have and continue to deploy unprecedented resources supported by an historic financial commitment to hold polluters accountable and to safeguard public health and the environment.
"These are some of 5,000 postcards we have collected from across the state, urging the council to set stringent limits on those three chemicals," NYPIRG said.

In addition, the Maine CDC said, of the private wells tested in Cumberland County, more than 17 percent have arsenic levels that exceed Maine’s maximum exposure guideline of 10 micrograms per liter.
Arsenic has adverse impacts on human health, especially in children, which is why the Environmental Health Strategy Center in Portland is working with the Sadie and Harry Davis Foundation to improve access to safe drinking water.
“With this funding, we can address the threat of arsenic to the health of Maine children by working (with) impacted communities to increase the testing of well water and to help residents obtain safe water.” According to the center, arsenic in well water has been linked to a reduction in children’s IQ levels, as well as an increase in the number of bladder cancer cases, among other impacts.
Cahueque said the new grant will allow the center to expand a pilot program that connects families with the resources and information they need to have their wells tested and treated.
That’s why “everyone in Maine who relies on a well for drinking water should test their water for arsenic,” he said.
“Arsenic is tasteless, colorless and odorless, so the only way to know that well water is safe is to test it.” Cahueque said the Maine CDC recommends testing well water for arsenic every five years “because concentrations can fluctuate.” “Illnesses and other health harms from arsenic exposure can last a lifetime,” he said.
“This is why we must prevent arsenic exposure from happening in the first place, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women.” Along with its education and outreach efforts, Cahueque said the Environmental Health Strategy Center promoted two new state laws last year specifically designed to address the problem of arsenic in well water.
One of those new laws provides funding for the installation of water treatment systems for those who cannot otherwise afford it.
“But much more is needed to ensure that all Maine children and families have safe water to drink,” Cahueque said.
An arsenic test kit of the type used by the Environmental Health Strategy Center of Portland, which is working to improve Mainers’ access to safe drinking water.

To mark National Refill Day Network Rail has today announced that passengers have helped save the equivalent of 150,000 plastic bottles from landfill through the introduction of free drinking water fountains.
* Network Rail’s free drinking water initiative first launched in London Charing Cross in February this year and has since been expanded to nine of the country’s largest railway stations, including Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston, with each location saving the equivalent of up to 1,000 plastic bottles each week.
A further 11 stations are set to have water fountains by the end of the year, meaning passengers in Network Rail stations will have saved up to 368,000 plastic bottles by the end of 2018.
We are also actively encouraging retailers in our managed stations to provide free water to customers where they are able to.” Natalie Fee, founder and CEO of City to Sea, said: “It’s brilliant to have the support of Network Rail during National Refill Day.
People want to help stop plastic pollution, and Refill puts the power to do just that in peoples’ hands which is what we want to celebrate on National Refill Day.” “Its water fountain initiative is helping us to achieve our goal of making tap water more widely available in public spaces, and we hope that it will only go on to empower more millions of people to join the Refill Revolution.” The announcement also coincides with Recycle Week, which highlights the importance of sustainability issues and what we can all do to have a positive impact on the environment.
Network Rail will continue to work with City to Sea to reduce single use plastic and promote free access to drinking water.
To locate your nearest water fountain and find out when your nearest Network Rail managed station launches its water fountain, download City to Sea’s Refill app which is available now.
Leon Ritazza Benugo All Bar One Natural Kitchen Carluccios About City to Sea: Refill, City to Sea’s award-winning campaign to get people ditching single-use water bottles in favour of reusable bottles, is the UK’s leading ‘app for tap’ – connecting people looking for water with businesses, water fountains and transport hubs where they can refill for free on the go.
The Refill campaign was started by City to Sea, an award-winning community interest company (CIC) campaigning to stop marine plastic pollution at source.
https://www.nesta.org.uk/feature/new-radicals-2018/natalie-fee/ The Refill campaign works by connecting people who are looking for water with thousands of local business, transport hubs and public spaces using a free app.

SAN JOSE, Sept. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — California Water Service (Cal Water) has joined the California Safe Drinking Water Data Challenge to help Californians statewide gain access to safe drinking water.
The utility is providing a total of $10,500 in prize money, awarding $1,500 to each of the seven general award winners, which include the Rising Innovator Award, Ready-to-Go Award (based on feasibility of implementation), Moonshot Award, Most Engaging By Design Award, Most Data-licious Award, Team Spirit and Collaboration Award, and People’s Choice Award.
The California Safe Drinking Water Data Challenge is organized by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and West Big Data Innovation Hub, and supported by the Water Foundation, Imagine H2O, Bay Area Council, Water Education for Latino Leaders, and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, along with numerous state agencies.
The Challenge invites participants to utilize data to better understand communities’ access to safe drinking water, anticipate vulnerabilities, and identify and develop solutions to bring safe, affordable, and reliable water service to vulnerable California communities.
“While our customers can count on reliable, high-quality water utility service day in and day out, not all Californians can enjoy what is often taken for granted,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water President and CEO.
“We are pleased to support the California Safe Drinking Water Data Challenge and encourage participants to help find opportunities and solutions that will bring safe, reliable water service to all residents in the state.” To participate, visit waterchallenge.data.ca.gov.
Winners will be announced at the Challenge Summit and Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2018.
California Water Service serves about 2 million people through 484,900 service connections in California.
Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.
Contact: Yvonne Kingman, 310-257-1434 Markets Insider and Business Insider Editorial Teams were not involved in the creation of this post.

PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane, which can cause several types of cancer and other diseases, have harmed communities from Long Island to Hoosick Falls.
The only way to ensure every New York community is safe from these dangerous chemicals – meaning every water supply is tested and response protocols are in place – is to establish MCLs.Today, organizations, labor, medical professionals, and residents from the impacted communities of Hoosick Falls and Newburgh called on Governor Cuomo to establish MCLs immediately.
More than 1,000 days have passed since the residents of Hoosick Falls learned their drinking water was contaminated with PFOA.
Unfortunately, by putting off setting low MCLs for the toxic chemicals that my family drank for years, he’s not meeting that basic expectation.
Even more outrageous is that New York State’s Drinking Water Quality Council (DWQC), enacted by the legislature, has failed to address the problem or set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) concerning these dangerous chemicals, as they were tasked to do.
Today we join in concert with concerned citizens, organizations, advocates, and the Environmental Advocates of New York in calling for immediate action to be taken by the Department of Health and the Governor to ensure New York’s drinking water is safe beyond reproach.” “On behalf of the NYS Association of Counties, the NYS Association of County Health Officials and the NYS Conference of Environmental Health Directors, we respectfully request the Department of Health to establish enforceable MCLs for 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS.
The time for talking is over; Governor Cuomo must take action to protect our access to clean, safe drinking water.” “I can’t think of any function of government more fundamental than ensuring that the water that comes out of our taps doesn’t harm us,” said Bob Cohen,Policy Director of Citizen Action of New York and a Rensselaer County resident.
Governor Cuomo must act immediately to ensure that disasters like Hoosick Falls don’t happen again, by issuing state clean water standards that are much stronger than the EPA recommendations.” “We urge the Department of Health to establish strong standards for chemicals in drinking water such as PFOA, PFOS and 1,4-dioxane” said Kathleen Curtis, Executive Director of Clean and Healthy New York.
This is particularly crucial now, given EPA’s failure to enact such protections and the current federal administration’s broad attacks on environmental protections.” Dan Shapley, water quality program director for Riverkeeper said, “New York needs to set aggressive limits on these contaminants in drinking water to protect public health.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidance levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water at 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

As the new school year begins, Oakland is carrying out an aggressive strategy to limit lead in water by expanding water testing, installing filtered water stations and adopting a lead limit of 5 parts per billion, lower than the state and federal limit of 15 parts per billion.
Oakland Unified is among the California districts that have adopted lead limits for their drinking water that are more stringent than those in a new state law that requires part per billion standard, the only level health advocates say is safe.
San Diego Unified has adopted a 5 parts per billion limit and is looking to borrow $45 million to further lower its lead standard to 1 part per billion by 2020.
An EdSource analysis of test results found 24 schools in Oakland, and 150 throughout California, with lead levels in water sources over 15 parts per billion.
But testing also revealed that 46 schools in Oakland — just over one-third of those tested — had lead levels between 5 and 15 parts per billion.
Since then, tests have identified 12 schools where a water outlet had lead levels above 15 parts per billion, out of 234 schools where tests have been conducted.
Tests recorded lead levels between 5 and 15 parts per billion at 45 San Diego schools.
Naji, the San Diego Unified spokesman, said repair work at fixtures that tested over 5 parts per billion is ongoing, as are more extensive tests of the district’s water sources.
Push for districts to adopt lower lead levels Rusch said CALPIRG is encouraging “dozens of districts” that still rely on the 15 parts per billion standard, including San Francisco Unified and Los Angeles Unified, to adopt more stringent lead policies.
Of the district’s 20 schools, three tested over 15 parts per billion and three others had lead levels between 1 and 5 parts per billion; the rest were under 1 part per billion.

Despite more than three years of war, Yemen, the scene of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, still struggles for its fair share of the world’s attention.
Since March 2015, the Saudi-UAE military alliance has carried out more than 16,000 air raids, almost one-third of which have struck non-military sites.
According to the UN, at least 10,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict.
However, analysts say the number hasn’t been updated in years and the death toll is likely to be much higher.
According to UNICEF, more than 22 million Yemenis, 78 percent of the population, need humanitarian assistance every day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.8 million under the age of five children suffer from acute malnutrition, including 500,000 children who suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
Access to clean water and sanitation According to the UN agency OCHA, there is a strong possibility of a third wave of cholera due to contaminated food and drinking water brought about by the collapse of the public health system.
Cholera, which can kill within hours if left untreated, is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholera.
Before the war, Yemen imported around 90 percent of its wheat and all of its rice to feed its population of about 28 million, and around 70 percent of these imports passed through Hodeidah.
Since the start of the war, the unemployment rate has shot above 50 percent, with nearly 50 percent of the population (PDF) now loving on less than two dollars a day.