Surma River is polluted day by day by human activities, poor structured sewerage and drainage system, discharging industrial and household wastes. The charas (natural channels) are responsible for surface runoff conveyance from its urban catchments to the receiving Surma River. Water samples have been collected from a part of Surma River along different points and analyzed for various water quality parameters during dry and monsoon periods. Effects of industrial wastes, municipal sewage, and agricultural runoff on river water quality have been investigated. The study was conducted within the Chattak to Sunamganj portion of Surma River, which is significant due to the presence of two major industries--a paper mill and a cement factory. The other significant feature is the conveyors that travel from India to Chattak. The river was found to be highly turbid in the monsoon season. But BOD and fecal coliform concentration was found higher in the dry season. The water was found slightly acidic. The mean values of parameters were Conductivity 84-805 micros; DO: dry-5.52 mg/l, monsoon-5.72 mg/l; BOD: dry-1mg/l, monsoon-0.878 mg/l; Total Solid: dry-149.4 mg/l, monsoon-145.7 mg/l. In this study, an effort has been taken to investigate the status of concentration of phosphate (PO(-4)) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH4-N) at four entrance points of Malnichara to the city, Guali chara, Gaviar khal and Bolramer khal. Data has been collected from March-April and September-October of 2004. Concentrations have been measured using UV Spectrophotometer. Although the phosphate concentration has been found within the limit set by DOE for fishing, irrigation and recreational purposes, however ammonia-nitrogen has been found to exceed the limit.

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The pilot trial on Aquatabs TM disinfectant tablets was undertaken over a period of one month (three 10-day period excluding the pre-and post-trial activities) during October-December 2004 in an area of low-income urban communities suffering from a lack of basic health services including a lack of adequate and safe water and sanitation facilities (Lalbagh) as well as adjacent areas of old Dhaka. Drinking water consumed by 347 persons was treated in 50 households comprising 70 children under 5 years old. A pre-trial survey and testing of the water supplies demonstrated that the mean faecal coliform count was > 10 3 MPN/100mL and that all children (100%) belonged to a "Severe Diarrhoea Group" (> 3 incidences of light diarrhoea or any serious diarrhoeal condition). One effervescent Aquatabs TM (67mg sodium dichloroisocyanurate) was added by the mother to the local container (filled from a community tap or standpipe, often through an illegal connection), which held about 20-25 litres of unsafe water, giving a dosage of about 2mg/L free chlorine. During the trial period water samples were tested at 3 x 10-day period for free residual chlorine levels and faecal coliform counts at all households. About 65.7% of children were reported to be free from diarrhoea during the trial period, there was a strong association between "under-chlorinated" water (<0.5mg/L residual free chlorine) and reported diarrhoea incidences. Survey analysis during the pilot trial concluded that 70% of mothers were not aware that health improvements were related to water supply and sanitation.

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