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Investigation of Physico-chemical Parameter, Heavy Metal in Turag River Water and Adjacent Industrial Effluent in Bangladesh

R. M. Hafizur
Dept . of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail 1902, Bangladesh

H. M. Nuralam
College of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University (CQU), 174 Shazhengjie Street, Shapingba, Chongqing 400044, China.

I. M. Rumainul
College of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University (CQU), 174 Shazhengjie Street, Shapingba, Chongqing 400044, China.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Industrial effluent (IE) is one of the major concerns in environmental issues due to its hazardous and chemical nature that is require on-site treatment and systematic management before discharge into sewage system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in order to determine the present pollution status and their alteration trends with the seasonal change of discharge amount. Water samples have been collected from Turag River adjacent to Konabari industrial area and analyzed for various water quality parameters during both dry and wet seasons. Physicochemical analyses revealed that, most of the water quality parameters exceeded the recommended levels set by the Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh. The dry season had significantly higher contamination loads, which were decreased during the wet season, as the river was found to be highly turbid in wet season. Furthermore, all of the dissolved metals in the water samples were also found to be significantly higher in concentrations during dry season, but still remain under the limit of recommended standards of DoE, Bangladesh, except the concentration of Cadmium in dry season. To conclude, the variation in river water flow during different seasons and the anthropogenic activities were the main reasons for this water pollution of Turag River.

Keywords: Physicochemical parameter, Heavy metal, Industrial effluent, Turag River

Location: Turag River at Konabari in Gazipur district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Efluent, Contamination

Objectives:

This study has designed to find the pollution level of Turag river’s water in terms of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contents, as heavy metal is one of the most concerning pollutants around the world. The variation of water quality of the Turag River throughout a year was also investigated and compare it with the standards, which are recommended by the Department of Environment (DoE), Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh (DoE, 1997). The impact of industrial activities on water quality of the Turag River was also investigated throughout this research. Furthermore, the preventive measures were also recommended for the identified water contamination of Turag River.

Methodology:

Study area consists of Turag River at Konabari in Gazipur district beside the industrial area of Bangladesh. It is the main industrial area of Gazipur, Bangladesh. The Gazipur district is bounded by Mymensingh and Kishoreganj districts on the north, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Narshindi districts on the south, Narshindi on the east, Dhaka and Tangail districts on the west, with an area of 1741.53 sq km. Furthermore, the Gazipur district is located at 23°8’230.48” N and 90°65’900.390” E, whereas the Gazipur Sadar is located at 24°00000” N and 90°42500” E (Islam and Jamal, 2012). Annual average temperature ranges from 36°C to 12.7°C. Annual average rainfall is 2376 mm. The Konabari industrial area of Bangladesh is characterized by densely populated residential area, unregulated growth of commercial and industrial installations and scattered slums with poor quality service facilities. Konabari is mainly important for the establishment of different types of production and process industries. The Turag River, one of the most prominent rivers in the flood plain region of Bangladesh which generates from Banshi River at Kaliakoir and meets Buriganga at Kholamora of Keraniganj. The Turag River drawn into the Jamuna river system by the invasion of the Lohajang River, alongside of Tangail district in Bangladesh. The Turag remains active, although it has only a small flow in the dry season. It joins the Buriganga near Mirpur (Dhaka) and is tidal in its lower reaches. It is navigable by country boats throughout the year. The whole of the Turag valley south of the Mymensingh Trunk road is notable for Boro rice cultivation. The GPS co-ordinate of selected four points along Turag River. Sample collecting stations has selected on the basis of common point of river, maximum polluted point, near the outlet of point sources, intake of water treatment plant, easy to access to collect samples and water available all the year around. Water samples represent the water of this particular river. Four random sample collecting stations have selected for the study. Water samples collected from each station. The effluent samples were collected from four stations from each point such as St.-1, St.-2, St.-3 and St.-4 of the Turag River adjacent to Konabari Industrial area. Collection and analysis of all samples were performed in both dry season (January, 2015) and wet season (July, 2015). The water samples were collected in 500 mL plastic bottles. Before sampling, the bottles were cleaned and washed with detergent solution and rinsed again three times to avoid contamination. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): The rate removal (i.e. consumption) of oxygen by microorganisms in aerobic degradation of the dissolved or even particulate organic matter in water is called Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). At first the collected water sample was taken in a suitable sample bottle. The DO content of the water (D1) was measured by using DO meter before incubation. Then the bottle was sealed and incubated in the dark chamber for 5 days at 20°C. After incubation, the dissolved oxygen (DO) of water (D2) was measured by using DO meter. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS): Total dissolved Solid (TDS) of the sample is measured by a TDS meter. Firstly, TDS meter electrode was washed out by distilled water. Then, the cell constant of the conductivity meter was checked. Twenty ml sample was taken in 50 mL measuring cylinder and immersed the electrode and waited for at least 10 seconds. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) readings were collected from this meter and wrote down in the notebook. Determination of heavy metal content: All elements namely copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined with the help of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, AA6800) in laboratory. Materials and reagents were sample bottle, Pipette, Distilled water Nitric Acid (HNO3).At first, pipette and sample bottle were washed by distilled water.Some sample water was collected from mother/source sample by pipette and it was washed by this sample bottle. After that about 100 ml sample was collected by pipette from source sample and it was poured in to sample bottle. About 2 mL HNO3 was taken by Graduated pipette and it was poured into sample bottle, the bottle was slightly shaken for mixing the sample water and HNO3. These steps were conducted for each of the sample. After that this volumetric flask (Sample of Lead and Cadmium) was taken in to the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in Graphite tube atomizer and the results were showed in computer. Then the results were written in notebook. Following procedures were taken for the test of the Calcium, Lead, and Cadmium.

Source of Information: J. Sci.Technol. Environ. Inform. 05(01): 347-360| Hafizur et al. (2017)

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.18801/jstei.050117.37

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Pollutants enter into the river system by direct discharges or surface runoff from the waste of many industrial, municipal and agricultural sources.Resultsof the present study show that the overall levels of pollution in Turag River are beyond the threshold limits in terms of physicochemical properties. The data show that the water is certainly unfit for drinking purposes without any form of treatment, but for various other surface water usage purposes, it still could be considered quite acceptable. On the other hand, the temperature, DO, pH and BOD values were within the DoE recommended values in case of other purpose usages, while EC and TDS were above the standard. Concentrations of all metals were found to be within the recommended values, except Cd (0.0068 mg/L) exceed little bit higher than the standard in dry season. Furthermore, the pollution levels showed a seasonal pattern of change. Values of almost all the parameters remained high during the dry season with a lower river flow as compared to the wet season. Alternatively, during the rainy season the concentration was diluted from the higher water flow. Therefore, river pollution is largely dependent on the upstream river flow. However, the examined physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination indicate that the water quality of Turag river is unsuitable for aquatic lives and human consumption. These parameters help us in selecting the right options to manage water resources and also assess water quality of Turag River properly.

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