|
||||
Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Selected Areas of Bangladesh: A Water Quality Index Approach
Md Masum Billah
Department of Civil Engineering,
World University of Bangladesh
Dhaka- 1230, Bangladesh
Kazi Nur E Mustakim
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX 76019, United States
Md. Tanvir Ahmed
Department of Civil Engineering,
World University of Bangladesh
Dhaka- 1230, Bangladesh
Rokhshana Parvin
Department of Civil Engineering,
World University of Bangladesh
Dhaka- 1230, Bangladesh
Abstract
Groundwater is the main source of drinking water in Bangladesh; the majority of the people depend on the groundwater for drinking water. Particularly in rural and semi-urban regions, the availability of treated surface water is restricted. However, over the years, industrialization has increased across the country, agricultural runoff, poor sanitation practices, poor waste management systems are concerning about groundwater standards. Groundwater standard has been threatened by both natural and human activities. This study focuses on assessing the groundwater condition in four major locations, such as Chandpur, Gazipur, Saver, and Chittagong, which represent several environmental and industrial conditions. Groundwater samples had accumulated from eight selected tube wells two samples from each locations and were analyzed for key physicochemical parameters pH, Hardness, Chloride, Iron, Arsenic, Salinity, Nitrate, Turbidity, TDS, CO₂, Fecal Coliform and the quality were assessed by the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) method. The results indicate that while most parameters, including pH, chloride, TDS, turbidity, and nitrate, remain within permissible limits, iron levels exceeded the standard in Chandpur, Savar, and Chattogram. Additionally, severe fecal coliform contamination was detected in all regions, posing significant health risks. The Water Quality Index (WQI) of all four regions was calculated using the weighted arithmetic method, revealing excellent groundwater quality in Gazipur, Savar and Chattogram whereas Chandpur was found to have poor water quality.
Keywords
Groundwater Quality, Water Quality Index (WQI), Physicochemical Parameters, Weighted Arithmetic Method, Fecal Coliform
Biographies
Md Masum Billah was born in the south-central region of Bangladesh. He successfully earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the World University of Bangladesh (WUB), where he conducted thesis on air pollution in Dhaka City. Currently, he works as a Project Engineer at Legal Steel Building Limited, where he is involved in construction and structural projects. He is also deeply interested in water research and sustainable infrastructure and is preparing for higher studies in a foreign country to specialize in water engineering and smart city development.
Kazi Nur E Mustakim was born in the southern region of Bangladesh. He completed his undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at the World University of Bangladesh (WUB) and earned his Master’s in Construction Management from the University of Texas at Arlington, United States. During his master’s program, he worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching more than 90 students each semester in subjects including construction project estimation, acquisition, project planning and scheduling. Previously, he successfully managed and handed over 53 mega infrastructure projects worth over $550 million in Bangladesh, including highways, international airports, bridges and metro rail. Currently, he contributes to major infrastructure projects in the United States, including DFW International Airport and TxDOT highway improvements across Texas. His professional and research interests focus on transportation engineering, water and wastewater treatment and sustainable infrastructure practices.
Md. Tanvir Ahmed was born in the northern region of Bangladesh. He successfully earned his undergraduate degree from the Department Civil Engineering of the World University of Bangladesh (WUB). He is now working as a lecture in the same department. Currently, Mr. Tanvir is actively pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Civil Engineering at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). His research interests primarily focus on areas such as water and air quality, noise pollution, and wastewater treatment.
Rokhshana Parvin a native of northern Bangladesh, completed her undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at the World University of Bangladesh (WUB). She currently serves as a lecturer at WUB and is concurrently pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Civil Engineering at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).