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Assessment of Soil and Water Quality of Barapukuria Coal Digging Site, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Rowshon Shad Fardushe
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

Md. Mahbubul Hoque
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

From the field observation, it is apparent that the color of coal leached drainage water and the agricultural land water are blackish and slightly blackish respectively, which pollutes surface water and the agricultural land. The study showed the present status of the water quality through analyzing different parameters including color, temperature, pH, EC, DO, TDS, BOD, COD, Cl- , Cu, Zn and Fe as well as the status of soil quality where pH, OC, PO4 - , Cu, Cr and Zn were analyzed. All the water quality parameters (e.g. temperature, pH, EC, TDS, DO, and BOD) were within normal levels but the value of COD was higher, which affects the aquatic environment. The concentration of heavy metals in water varied with Zn > Cu > Cr and in soil, the concentration varied with Cu > Cr > Zn.

Keywords: Coal, physico-chemical parameters, water quality, soil quality

Location: Barapukuria coal digging siteis located at Parbotipur Upazila of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil quality, Water quality

Objectives:

To analyze the water quality of the coal mining site and to assess the soil quality of the mining site as well as the agricultural land.

Methodology:

Study area: Barapukuria coal mining sites located at Parbotipur Upazila of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. The mining site is located in flat paddy land of the northwestern corner of Bangladesh at about 45 km east of the district headquarters of Dinajpur. The area of the coalfield is about 5.25 sq km. In addition, the field area is suggested to have a possible extension for 1 to 1.5 sq km to the south. (Anon. 1991). Data collection: To carry out the study primary data were attained through intensive field observation and laboratory work. However, apart from the primary data, the collection of secondary data was also very significant to carry out the study. Secondary data were collected from different sources (e.g. Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd., Kibria et al. 2012, Tiwary 2001, Ashton et al. 2001, Akhtar 2000, Ashton 1999 and Anon. 1991). Water sample collection: Water samples were collected in different environmental conditions from different points of the study area (Fig. 2). The mine discharged water samples were collected from outside the drain and the groundwater and surface water samples were also collected. The sample containing bottles were cleaned with dilute acid followed by distilled water. Before sampling the bottles were rinsed again three times with water to be sampled. Ninety ml of water sample from each bottle was transferred to 100 ml plastic bottle, which contained 10 ml 2M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution for the analysis of Cu, Cr, Fe and Zn. Potassium iodide (KI) solution was used to protect the water samples from any fungal and other pathogenic invasions. In order to analyze the pH, EC, TDS, DO and BOD water samples were carefully carried to the laboratory of the Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESRM), Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), Tangail and to analyze the heavy metals, COD and Cl- water samples were cautiously transported to the Department of Environment (DoE), Khulna. Soil sample collection: Soil samples were collected in sealed polythene bags from different points of the study area (Fig. 2). Surface soil samples were collected from the nearby mine drainage. The agricultural land soil, which was irrigated with mine water or drain water, and the normal farmland soil were also collected for analysis. The samples were scraped from the top to bottom with the help of an auger. Samples were labeled properly including date of collection, location and code number of soil samples. In order to analyze the pH, heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Cr) and nutrient (e.g. PO₄ ^- ) soil samples were cautiously transported to the Department of Environment, Khulna. Analytical methods: To analyze the physicochemical parameters of water various standard methods were followed and a number of instruments were used. The water quality parameters such as temperature and pH were determined by the thermometer and digital pH meter, respectively. Electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined by digital EC and TDS meter (model-HM digital, Germany), respectively. Dissolve oxygen (DO) was determined by digital DO meter (model-D. 46974, Taiwan) where sodium thiosulphate (0.025N) was used as a reagent. Alkalinity was measured by titration method and the EDTA method was used to determine the hardness of water. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) was measured by two steps where initial BOD (BOD1) was measured immediately after the sample collection and after 5 days BOD (BOD5) was measured by incubation in the dark condition at 20°C for 5 days. Then the total BOD (BOD1-BOD5) was measured according to Trivedy and Goel (1984).The chemical oxygen demand (COD) was determined by the closed reflex chlorimatic method. The chloride was analyzed by the argentometric method. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) were measured through the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (model-UNICAM 969, England). Soil pH was determined by pH meter. The per cent of organic carbon was determined titrimetrically using Walkley and Black (1934)method. The phosphorus of water samples was determined colorimetrically by stannous chloride (SnCl2) method based on the procedure outlined by Jackson (1973) and Tandon (1995). Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe were determined by the DTPA extraction method outlined by Huq and Alam (2005). Finally, data were compiled and analyzed by using the Microsoft Office Excel 2007.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 27(1): 63-73, 2014 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal): Coal, Physico-chemical parameters, Water quality, Soil quality

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study showed the overall scenario regarding the concentration of different water quality and soil quality parameters resulted from the Barapukuria coal mine activity and their suitability for aquatic life as well as for irrigation. The results of the study concluded that the water and soil in the coal mine industrial area were found quitely contaminated, which can deteriorate the aquatic life and agriculture. The study showed that all the water quality parameters of mining area i.e. temperature, pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD were in standard levels, while the value of COD was higher. However, in respect of irrigation the identified BOD values were found higher in the sample waters. For instance, the BOD of mine drainage water, agricultural land water, surface and groundwater was recorded as 26.65, 24.46, 24.92 and 22.31 mg/l respectively, whereas Chapman (1996) recommended the BOD value of 2.0 ppm or less for suitable irrigation. The study also demonstrated that all of the COD values of different water samples except groundwater exceed the standard limit (200 mg/l), which consequently affect the aquatic life. The average concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn content in the water samples was below the standard level. The study identified that the pH of the soil samples were in permissible level and thus suitable for agriculture. Although the concentration of heavy metals (e.g. Cr, Zn and Cu) in the soil samples was in permissible limits, however the study depicted that high levels of these heavy metals from the coal mine can pose a serious threat on the environment within a short period of time.

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