Textile Pollution Is Making Dhaka’s Water Undrinkable

Bangladesh is well known for its water woes. In the West, we most often hear about flooding for this nation of 10 million people. And now the capital, Dhaka, has a new problem. Scientists predict that Dhaka may be uninhabitable by 2025 due to contamination of the ground and surface water. This could mean that up to 25 million people would be on the move looking for a new place to live.

What you may not know, is that Bangladesh has a thriving textile industry and accounts for some 70 percent of the country’s exports, according to Reuters. As wages and regulations rise in China, some brands are moving manufacturing to Bangladesh where labor costs are lower. If you buy a cheap shirt, dress, or other garment from Wal-Mart, Kohls, JC Penny, H&M or other retailers, it’s likely it came from Bangladesh.

Read on to learn what's being done...