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Water Quality Assessment of a Groundwater Basin in Bangladesh for Irrigation Use

A. A. Sarkar
Agricultural Engineering Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, P.O. Box - 4, Mymensingh - 2200, Bangladesh

A. A. Hassan
Agricultural Engineering Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, P.O. Box - 4, Mymensingh - 2200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Quality of water is a pre-requisite for the success of an irrigation project. With this view, an effort was made to assess the groundwater quality of a hydrological basin in Bangladesh. Common problems for poor quality irrigation water were cited and the water quality parameter indices determined were precisely evaluated and interpreted. From the analytical result it was observed that the compositions of the groundwater samples were within the permissible range of irrigation use, except an increased Cl^-values, responsible for toxicity problem. Standard water quality parameter indices like pH, EC, SAR, SSP, RSBC, KR, PI, MAR and TH were also found within the acceptable range of crop production. RSC values were higher (3.26 to 4.16 meq L ^-) than the permissible limit (>2.5 meq L^-) due to higher HCO3^- content in the irrigation water that may induce some permeability problem. Arsenic was traced and at one location it was found (0.2 to 0.3 mg L ^-) above the danger limit (>0.05 mg L^-). However, except these minor discrepancies the groundwater of the study locations was categorized as excellent to good quality and seemed to be suitable for crop production.

Keywords: Groundwater, Quality, Irrigation, Parameter indices, Crop production

Location: Pabna district comprising of 8 thanas

Start Date: 00-07-2002

End Date: 00-06-2003

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water quality

Objectives:

1. To determine different water quality constituents in groundwater in the study areas and 2. To assess its irrigation suitability for sustainable crop production

Methodology:

Water samples were collected randomly in two consecutive years from 18 tubewells distributed in 8 thanas of the district. In 2002-03, water samples were collected from 6 DTWs and 12 HTWs at the end of May. But in 2003-04, water samples were collected from 7 DTWs, 10 STWs and 1 HTW at the middle of March, as the frequency of irrigation is the maximum during this month. Water samples were collected in dry and clean plastic containers. Prior to sampling, the containers were ringed well with sampling water. The samples were collected only after the tubewells had pumped for at least 30 min to avoid stagnant or contaminated water sampling After collection of water, the containers mouths were sealed tightly. The containers were kept airtight and labeled properly to avoid complication in identification The water samples were then carried to the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) laboratory and preserved in a cool room for analysis. The groundwater samples of the study area were chemically analyzed in order to find their suitability for irrigation purposes. The samples were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), soluble cations including Calcium (Ca⁺⁺), Magnesium (Mg⁺⁺⁾, Sodium (Na⁺), Potasium (K⁺), Iron (Fe⁺⁺) and Arsenic (As⁺⁺⁺⁾; the anion including Carbonate (CO3^--), Bicarbonate (HCO3^-) and Chloride (Cl^-), pH, EC and As ⁺⁺⁺ were determined by digital pH meter, conductivity bridge and field kit method, respectively. While Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Na⁺, Fe⁺⁺ and K⁺ were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Source of Information: Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 9 (9): 1677-1684, 2006

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Except the minor discrepancies, the groundwater of the study locations was categorized as excellent to good quality and seemed to be suitable for crop production.

Knowledge Management: Journal