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Analysis of Physicochemical Parameters, Anions and Major Heavy Metals of the Dhaleshwari River Water, Tangail, Bangladesh

Md. Aminul Ahsan
Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Abu Bakar Siddique
Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mahbuba Akhter Munni
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh

Md. Ahedul Akbor
Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Shakila Akter
Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Younus Mia
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Dhaleshwari is one of the most important rivers in Bangladesh and plays a vital role in the economy of the Tangail region of Bangladesh due to its geographical position. However, anthropogenic activities are gradually degrading the aquatic system of the river. The present study was conducted at the three selected locations of the Dhaleswari river during March to May 2016 for physicochemical parameters: color, odor, temperature, pH, DO, BOD, EC, TDS; anions: F^- , Cl^- , Br^- , NO₃^- , NO₂ ^- , SO₄ ^2- and PO₄ ^3- and major heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg and As in order to estimate the current water pollution profile of the river. The color of water were natural to slightly green and odor were unobjectionable. Other measured physicochemical parameters ranged as temperature 29.3-32°C, pH 6.78-8.12, DO 4.11-7.31 mgL^-1, BOD 0.52-1.74 mgL^-1, EC 127-487 µScm^-1 and TDS 60-235 mgL^-1. The anions concentration found as F^- <0.5, Cl^- 1.08-6.8, Br^- <1.0, NO₃^- 0.51-19.7, NO₂^- <1.0, SO₄ ^2- 3.34-9.37 and PO₄ ^3- 1.74-4.44 mgL^-1. The concentration of major heavy metals obtained as Pb <0.01, Cd ?0.001, Cr ?0.005, Hg ?0.001 and As 0.002-0.015 mgL^-1. The analysis of most of the water quality parameters were performed using standard methods of American Public Health Association. According to statistical analysis, temperature, EC and TDS show positive correlations with each other and negative correlations with pH, DO and BOD which themselves show negative correlations with each other. The anionic pairs Cl^- -PO₄ ^3-, NO₃ ^- -SO₄ ^2-, and SO₄ ^2--PO₄ ^3- show positive correlations and Cl^- -NO₃ ^-, Cl^- -SO₄ ^2- and NO₃ ^- -PO₄ ^3- show negative correlations with each other. The analysis results of water body in regard to the studied water quality parameters revealed that the quality of water in the selected regions of the Dhaleshwari river is almost suitable for fishing, domestic and irrigation purposes. The water is safe for aquatic biota and human beings and also for industrial use without further treatment. Although adequate measure and treatment should be carried out in the water body for microbial contaminations before using for human consumptions.

Keywords: Dhaleshwari River, Physicochemical Parameters, Anions and Heavy Metals, Water Quality, Statistical Analysis, Aquatic Environment

Location: Tangail district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-03-2016

End Date: 00-05-2016

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Heavy metal in water

Objectives:

To assess the water quality of the river with respect to physicochemical parameters, anions and major heavy metals concentrations and to compare the findings with the surface water quality standards for Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Sampling Site: The selected Dhaleshwari river starts off the Jamuna river near the north-western tip of Tangail district and then divided into two branches: the name Dhaleshwari retains in the northern branch which merges at the southern part of Manikgang district with the other branch of Kaligonga river. The merged flow then meets at the Shitalakshya river near of Narayanganj district. This combined flow finally merge into the Meghna river moving southwards. For the study, the three locations of the river were selected namely Porabari (Location 1), Katuli (Location 2) and Mahmudnagar (Location 3) union at Tangail Sadar Upazila of Tangail district, Bangladesh. The exact location of each sampling point was determined using global positioning system (GPS). The three selected sampling sites has no significant pollution sources except some agricultural lands and were selected as a part of regular study. The almost whole of the lands surrounding the three sampling points is mainly notable for the cultivation of some crops such as rice, jut, wheat, corn, mustard etc. Sample Collection: The climate of Tangail district is characterized by four seasons over the year: the summer monsoon (June to September), the retreating monsoon (October to November), the winter season (December to February) and the unsettled period of pre-summer monsoon (March to May). The maximum and minimum annual average temperature of Tangail district is 38.33°C and 10.13°C respectively with the annual rainfall of 1830 mm. For the study, water samples were collected in the morning between 8.00-10.00 am, three times in each of the three months: March, April and May, 2016 after ten days interval from the three selected locations Porabari (Location 1), Katuli (Location 2) and Mahmudnagar (Location 3) area of the Dhaleshwari river in 1000 mL non-transparent plastic bottles. According to Brammer [9] samples collected during the month of March, April and May 2016 were fall in pre-monsoon (having high temperature and high evaporation rates) season with moderate intensity of rainfall compared to monsoon season (high intensity of rainfall). Sample Analysis: The water samples were analyzed at ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory of Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh. The analyzed physicochemical parameters includes: color, odor, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), anions: fluoride (F^- ), chloride (Cl^- ), bromide (Br^- ), nitrite (NO₂ ^- ), nitrate (NO₃ ^-), sulphate (SO₄ ^2-) and phosphate (PO₄ ^3-), and heavy metals viz. lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As). Almost all the parameters were analyzed using standard methods described by APHA. . Statistical Analysis: All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 20 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY). Descriptive statistics of the parameters were computed to show their average behaviors and dispersions. Pearson’s correlation (r) matrix among the parameters were also computed to show the association among the parameters.

Source of Information: American Journal of Environmental Protection, 2018; 7(2): 29-39; ISSN: 2328-5680 (Print); ISSN: 2328-5699 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20180702.12 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajep)

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Pollutants from various sources enter into the river system mainly either by direct discharges or surface runoff from the agricultural, industrial and municipal pollutant sources. The study was aimed to evaluate the present status of Dhaleshwari river water quality in terms of physicochemical parameters, anions and major heavy metals. Analysis of physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, BOD, EC, TDS shows that the levels of pollution in Dhaleshwari river are beyond the threshold limits. According to the statistical analysis, temperature, EC and TDS show positive correlations (p<0.01) with each other and negative correlations with pH, DO and BOD which themselves show negative correlations with each other. Concentrations of anions were also found below the recommended values except in the month of March for Location 2 (Katuli) in which NO₃ ^- ion concentration (19.7 mgL^-1) is found higher than the permissible level by WHO (10 mgL^-1). This may be due to the considerable surface runoff of excessively used nitrate fertilizer in the surrounding agricultural lands into the river water. Statistically, the Cl^- ion shows positive correlations (p<0.05) with PO₄ ^3- ion and negative correlations with NO₃^- and SO₄ ^2- ions. The NO₃ ^- ion shows positive and negative correlations with SO₄ ^2- and PO₄ ^3- ions respectively while SO₄ ^2- and PO₄ ^3- ion shows positive correlations with each other. The concentration of heavy metals in Dhaleshwari river water were also beyond the standard recommended values. The examined physicochemical parameters, anions and heavy metals contaminations indicate that the quality of Dhaleshwari river water is almost suitable for aquatic lives and human consumption and the water in the study area is also suitable for utilizing in irrigation, fishing, household, livestock, industrial and recreational purposes. However, from the microbial study, it was suggested by Real et al. [6] that the water of the river is not suitable for human activities. In this regard, future study on microbial load of water body, fish species, sediments, phytoplankton, zooplankton, microalgae etc. should be carried out for a longer period of time to get a more clear idea about the water quality and aquatic environment of the Dhaleshwari river.

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