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Suitability of Groundwater for Irrigation and Arsenic for Drinking Purposes at Kamalbhog, Bangladesh

A K M Adham
Deptt. of Irrigation and Water Management

S M Shirazi
Farming System and Environmental Studies

M S U Talukder
Deptt. of Irrigation and Water Management

H M Zakir
Deptt. of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh - 2202

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted at Kamalbhog (AEZ #21) site of Itna upazila under Kishoregonj district to determine the groundwater quality for irrigation purpose and drinking water quality in relation to arsenic contamination. The groundwater samples were permissible in respect of electrical conductivity, normal in respect of sodium adsorption ratio, satisfactory in respect of residual sodium bi-carbonate, good in respect of permeability index, slightly alkaline to alkaline in respect of pH, soft to slightly hard in respect of total hardness, and permissible to doubtful in respect of soluble sodium percentage. The waters were found harmful to soil with respect to magnesium adsorption ratio and Kelly's ratio. Ion concentrations were far below the recommended upper limit of irrigation water except magnesium indicating no restriction for irrigation use. Most of the water quality parameters were found to be correlated with each other and correlation between soluble sodium percentage and Kelly's ratio were found to be highly correlated. In the study area, most of the groundwater samples showed presence of arsenic beyond the safe limit (0.05-0.20 mgL^-1).

Keywords: Irrigation and Arsenic, Kamalbhog, Water quality

Location: Village Kamalbhog under Itna upazila of Kishoreganj district

Start Date: 00-10-2000

End Date: 00-03-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Maize

Objectives:

To determine the groundwater quality for irrigation purpose and drinking water quality in relation to arsenic contamination during October 2000 to March 2001.

Methodology:

The study was conducted during October 2000 to March 2001 at a hoar village Kamalbhog under Itna upazila of Kishoreganj district to determine the groundwater quality for irrigation purpose. No deep tubewell is available at the study area. Only shallow tubewells (STWs) and hand tubewells (HTWs) are used for extraction of groundwater which is applied as irrigation water into the crop field. So, STW and HTW were selected for the determination of water quality. In total 24 water samples were collected. Out of 24 samples, 18 were collected from HTW and the rest from STW. Thirty water samples were also collected from HTW to determine arsenic contamination for drinking purpose with the help of Arsenic Kit Box Merck. The water samples were collected in 500 ml plastic container from each tubewell for determining suitability of irrigation. The plastic bottles were cleaned twice or thrice with the pumping water before collecting the samples. Care was taken so that no air could enter into the container. First of all, samples were labeled and then transferred to the Hamboldt Soil Testing Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh for chemical analyses. The groundwater samples were analysed for pH, EC, Na, K, Ca, Mg, S, C0₃, HCO₃, NH₄-N, and N0₃ to determine the groundwater quality.

Source of Information: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh Agricultural Engineering Division, Vol. 30/AE, No.1, Dec. 2003

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Groundwater of the study area used for irrigation were almost permissible in respect of electrical conductivity, normal in respect of sodium adsorption ratio, satisfactory in respect of residual sodium bi-carbonate and good with respect to permeability index. Kelly's ratio of all the water samples was found above unity and soluble sodium percentage was in good to doubtful range for irrigation use. Magnesium adsorption ratios were above acceptable limit in all cases and were harmful to soil. Specific ion concentrations were far below the recommended upper limit of irrigation water except magnesium and KR indicating some restrictions to their use. The only problem may be due to magnesium toxicity. However, if magnesium concentrations in soils are low enough, the toxicity may be counter balanced. In view of arsenic, most of the groundwater samples showed presence of arsenic beyond the safe limit. It can be concluded that all the water samples were suitable for irrigation purpose except kelly's ration and magnesium adsorption ration. On the contrary, almost all the groudwater samples were contaminated with arsenic except four indicating harmful for drinking purpose.

Knowledge Management: Journal