Hydrogeochemical characterization and quality assessment of groundwater resource in Savar - an industrialized zone of Bangladesh

Mahmudul Hasan; Md Ashraful Islam; Md Jahangir Alam; Mahfujur Rahman; M Aziz Hasan

doi:10.1007/s10661-022-10137-1

Hydrogeochemical characterization and quality assessment of groundwater resource in Savar - an industrialized zone of Bangladesh

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Jul 1;194(8):549. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10137-1.

Authors

Mahmudul Hasan¹, Md Ashraful Islam², Md Jahangir Alam², Mahfujur Rahman², M Aziz Hasan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oceanography, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh. mahmud.hasan@du.ac.bd.
² Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.

PMID: 35776389
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10137-1

Abstract

Savar Upazila in the Dhaka District is a rapidly expanding city with a diverse range of industries and agricultural activities. This expansion poses environmental challenges including the threat to groundwater contamination. Based on these considerations, the objective of this research is to carry out a shallow groundwater hydrogeochemical characterization and an assessment of the suitablity of the groundwater for drinking and irrigational purposes using a geochemical approach, multivariate statistical techniques, and some indices of groundwater quality. The hydrogeochemical analyses of 42 groundwater samples from shallow depths (18 - 76 m) showed that the order of concentrations of cations, anions, and metals was Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺, HCO₃^- > Cl^- > SO₄^2- > NO₃^-, and Cr > As > Pb > Mn > Fe, respectively. Weathering of silicates was found to be the most significant hydrogeochemical process governing the chemistry of groundwater. Cation exchange also plays a significant role in the evolution of the groundwater chemistry. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis suggested that anthropogenic activities are influencing groundwater quality. A drinking water quality index map showed that about 91% of the groundwater samples were in the excellent category and suitable for human consumption, with only a few samples exceeding the standards of the WHO and Bangladesh for concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO₃^-, Fe, Mn, and As. An analysis of irrigation quality parameters found that most of the groundwater samples were either excellent or good for agricultural uses, except for one sample in the Tetuljhora Union that was unsuitable based on residual sodium carbonate. This finding may be useful to local governments in understanding the current status of groundwater quality, tracking potential threats of contamination, and initiating appropriate measures for long-term groundwater resource management.

Keywords: Groundwater; Hydrogeochemistry; Quality assessment; Savar.

MeSH terms

Bangladesh
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Groundwater* / chemistry
Humans
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Quality

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical