Arsenic contamination of groundwater in the alluvial aquifer underlying
Bangladesh and India has been recognized as a major problem of catastrophic
proportions. Groundwater extracted by shallow tubewells from this aquifer has
been found to contain high levels of arsenic which are unsafe for drinking and
cooking purposes. Thousands of people have already been identified to be
affected by arsenic poisoning, in addition to the millions potentially under threat
from drinking contaminated water. Provision of arsenic free water is urgently
needed for immediate protection of health and well being of the people living in
arsenic affected areas. In most situations, substitution of tubewell water by an
alternative safe and reliable source of water supply is not an easy task. Treatment
of arsenic-contaminated tubewell water is one prominent option in the acute
arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh and India.