Residents of Chapainawabganj municipality are facing a severe water crisis as boiling water and gas are emerging from several deep tube wells installed to supply safe drinking water. The issue has caused widespread concern among locals, who report that the water is unusually hot, salty, and emits flames when exposed to fire. The affected tube wells were installed a few years ago under a safe water and sanitation project funded by Japan’s development agency JICA, costing about 2.5 million taka.

The project aimed to provide arsenic-free and safe drinking water to areas suffering from long-term shortages. However, the recent anomalies have raised questions about the project’s effectiveness. Locals complain that the water is now unusable and poses health risks, forcing many to collect drinking water from distant areas. Laboratory tests found chloride levels in the water at about 1,280 milligrams per liter, more than double the normal range. Experts warn that excessive chloride can alter taste and harm health over time.

The Department of Public Health Engineering has collected water samples for testing and pledged to take necessary action once the cause is confirmed.