The government has sent samples of Dhaka WASA water to Sweden for fresh laboratory tests after a recent study detected Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination above the permissible level in one of the samples, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan told Parliament on Monday.
In a written reply to a question from MP Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan during the question-and-answer session, the minister said a research team from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University had collected water samples from eight automated teller machine (ATM) booths operated by Dhaka WASA.
Tests conducted in a European country found PFAS contamination above the tolerable level in one of the samples, he said.
However, Dhaka WASA was not informed about the collection of the samples, the minister said, adding that the research findings had not yet been published anywhere.
The minister said the matter was being treated with utmost importance.
Dhaka WASA contacted the research team and held a meeting with them to discuss the findings.
Subsequently, an 11-member committee comprising representatives of the research team and Dhaka WASA was formed to look into the matter.
As such tests are not available in Bangladesh or neighbouring countries, the committee was formed on October 27 to assess the cost of retesting the samples, he said.
“Based on the committee’s recommendations, water samples will be sent to a laboratory in Sweden for retesting,” the minister said.
The MP asked whether researchers had found cancer-causing contaminants in Dhaka WASA water, referring to a study that reportedly detected toxic PFAS, pesticides and pharmaceutical residues in samples collected from eight WASA ATM booths.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that can persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water. Exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to adverse health effects, including an increased risk of some cancers.
Dhaka WASA operates around 300 ATM water booths, according to the minister.
Replying to another question from MP Rokyea Begum, Moyeen Khan said Dhaka WASA currently supplies around 314 crore litres of water daily and has no shortage in meeting consumer demand.
He also said the authorities test 40 to 50 water samples every day to ensure the quality and safety of the water supplied to consumers.