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Salinity Constraints to Different Water Uses in Coastal Area of Bangladesh: a Case Study

Sayma Khanom
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Mashfiqus Salehin
Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present case study was an attempt to delineate the salinity related problems on multi-purpose uses of water and assess better water management options in a small scale water resources subproject in southwest coastal region of Bangladesh:,h. The methodology of the study included application of a range of Participatory Rural Approach (PRA) tools and direct measurement of salinity in different sources of water. From the end of April till the beginning of June, salinity level both in the river and in the canal is considerably higher than drinking water standards as well as the standards for irrigation water. Salinity levels of groundwater at shallow depths (65 - 70 n) are low, whereas salinity levels at deeper depths (540 - 1350 ft) are very high (3000 - 4000 US/cm). Salinity in canal has been a constraint to irrigation water use and it has caused considerable yield reduction over the last 4 years, the reduction being from 5-5.5 to 2-2.5 ton/ha for boro and from 4.5-5 to 2.5 ton/ha for aus. A number of health related problems have been identified in the study area due to salinity, such as diarrhea, fever, high blood pressure, gastric problem, skin problem, etc. One of the important management options is to repair the regulator gate and other possible management options could be application of gypsum. plantation of leguminous crops, selection of more salt-tolerant crops, harvesting rainwater, exploring suitable locations for tube-wells, which need to be tested and monitored on a regular basis.

Keywords: Salinity, Surface water, Groundwater, Agricultural water use, Domestic water use

Location:

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2009

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Contamination, Soil salinity

Objectives:

The objectives of the project are: (i) reduce flooding from Ghagor river (locally also called Saildaha river) by constructing embankments with regulators added to facilitate drainage, (ii) improve drainage by re-excavating three channels, and (iii) improve navigation by constructing a small boat pass.

Methodology:

A techno-social methodology was adopted in the study, involving primary and secondary data collection and analysis, and measurement of water salinity in different sources at different locations in the study area. Primary data (salinity data and salinity related issues) were collected through direct measurement of water salinity and through field research following Participatory Rural Approach (PRA) during three field visits made to the study area. The major sources of secondary information were Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), and Upazila Agricultural office.

Salinity was measured in the study area at different times of river water, canal water, pond water and groundwater. Locations of the places from which the samples were collected. Major locations included Saildaha river, Xakuibunia canal (inside. and outside the gates, deep hand tube-wells and shallow hand-tube-wells. The first sets of measurements were made in last week of April in 2009 and the second sets of measurements were made in second week of June in 2009.

The PRA tools used in the study included Resource Mapping (to locate existing land and water resources in the study area), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with three different groups (farmers, fishermen and women), Key informant interviews (KIIs) (to collect information on overall aspects of the study from informed local key persons, e.g. LGED officials, Upazila Agricultural Officers, Upazila Fisheries Department Officials), semi-structured interviews (to, get semi-quantitative information on salinity) and transect walk (to triangulate the findings from other sources).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 25(1): 33-42, 2012 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Salinity in Kakuibunia canal has been a constraint to irrigation water use. Salinity has been a problem mainly for irrigated boro and aus Crops. It has been a problem also for rabi crops. Many of the freshwater fishes which used to be found before have diminished due to increasing salinity level in the Saildaha river. Almost all the people of the study area use deep hand tube-well water for drinking purpose but people seemed less concerned as they were unaware of the salinity concentrations as found by direct measurements (from 3000 to > 4000 US/cm, which is 3 times or more higher than the drinking water standard). One of the important management options is repairing the Kakuibunia regulator. Other possible management options could be frequent irrigations, selection of more salt-tolerant crops, additional leaching, and heavy pre-plant irrigation. DPHE needs to play a bigger role in exploring suitable locations for tube-wells, which need to be tested and monitored on a regular basis. Rainwater harvesting can be an alternative source of water. It will, however, need building awareness among the people as they are not too familiar with the system.

Knowledge Management: Journal