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Sustainability of Groundwater Resources in the North-eastern Region of Bangladesh

Dr. M. H. Ali
SSO
AED, BINA

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Water is essential for economic, social, and environmental development. Global water resources are vulnerable due to increasing demand related to population growth, pollution potential, and climate change. Competition for water between different sectors is increasing. To meet the increasing demand, the use of groundwater is increasing worldwide. In this paper, the water-table dynamics of the north-eastern region of Bangladesh were studied using the MEKESENS software. This study reveals that the depth to water-table (WT) of almost all the wells is declining slowly. In many cases, the depth will approximately double by the year 2040, and almost all will double by 2060, if the present trend continues. If the decline of the water-table is allowed to continue in the long run, the result could be a serious threat to the ecology and to the sustainability of food production, which is vital for the nation’s food security. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to sustain water resources and thereby agricultural production. Alternative cropping systems (e.g., the introduction of low water-demanding crops) and demand-side management seem to be viable strategies for the area. These strategies could be employed to reduce pressure on groundwater and thus maintain the sustainability of the resource.

Keywords: Groundwater, Sustainable development, Agriculture, Bangladesh

Location: Mymensingh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Groundwater

Objectives:

To examine the long-term behavior of groundwater in the northeastern alluvial delta of Bangladesh, a major agricultural site of the country, with the following questions in mind:

What is the trend of the water-table position starting from the beginning of massive tube-well installation?
Is it possible to suggest appropriate strategies for the management of groundwater on a sustainable basis with a view toward maintaining sustainable agricultural productivity?

Methodology:

The "MAKESENS" software was used to detect and estimate trends. This software is based on the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test for trends and the non-parametric Sen's method for the magnitude of the trend (Salmi et al. 2002). The advantage of the non-parametric method is that it is applicable for both monotonic and non-monotonic trends, and it can operate with missing data.

Source of Information: Water Resour. Manage. 26:623–641, (2011).

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study reveals that excessive use of groundwater has exceeded the amount of recharge. The depth to water-table of almost all the wells is declining slowly. In many cases, the depth will be approximately twice the present value by the year 2040, and almost all cases will be doubled by 2060, if the present trend is continued. This trend will increase the cost of irrigation water and thus crop production. With the declining groundwater level, a series of ecological and environmental catastrophes may develop and become the key factors restricting the socio-economically sustainable development of the region. Compared with metropolitan areas, the environmental consequences of such exploitation may become critical slowly in most cases. This situation may become irreversible if appropriate care is not taken beforehand. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to avoid groundwater mining.

Knowledge Management: Journal