Physicochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Quality from Chittagong Area, Southeastern Bangladesh

Abstract: Chittagong is one of the major developing cities in Bangladesh; its area is rapidly increasing and a large number of populations live in Chittagong City Corporation (CCC). Majority of the people are using the groundwater as a prime source for their domestic needs, besides the CCC is supplying them with an allocation of treated water. Our research work has been focused on various essential physical and chemical parameters including color, odor, transparency, pH, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen(DO), Chemical oxygen demand(COD),  sulfate, nitrate, ammonia, orthophosphate, chloride, fluoride, M. alkalinity, P. alkalinity, hardness, calcium, magnesium, arsenic, iron, potassium, manganese, chromium, nickel, cadmium, lead silver, mercury and zinc of water samples from various districts of Chittagong region. An attempt has been made in this study to evaluate the groundwater quality of Chittagong region. Groundwater samples were collected from shallow wells, deep wells and hand pumps of different heavily industrialized and domestic blocks. The work has been confined to Chittagong region and districts. Since the water quality is expected to vary with season, multiple samples have been collected from 100 sites at an interval of 2 to 3 weeks in each district before and after monsoon for hydrological year 2016 -2018. The water samples have been analyzed using standard method for physicochemical parameters as prescribed by APHA, using standard techniques and compared with WHO drinking water quality standards. The laboratory findings of water quality parameters were also compared with the recommended values set by DoE and BSTI. The concentration of different constituents of most of the groundwater samples were within the permissible limits ofBSTI drinking water quality guideline except As, Cd and Pb. Results of water quality assessment identified the problem areas in respect of arsenic. The results also provided data to understand and quantify the threat of the impact of climate change on freshwater resources of this region. The results also provided data for water quality of groundwater resources of Chittagong area to match national and international standards for drinking, agricultural, industrial and livestock requirements.