Physicochemical Evaluation of Ground and Surface Water of Mohanpur Upazila of Rajshahi District

Abstract

Surface and ground water samples of Mohanpur Upazila of Rajshahi district have been analyzed in order to check its quality especially for drinking, fish culture, irrigation and industrial purposes. The water supplies were analyzed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, chloride, hardness, alkalinity, manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). All water samples were tasteless at the time of collection. pH values for surface water were 7.72-8.61 and those of ground water were 6.87-710; Total hardness for surface water was 112-181 ppm and ground water was 224-400 ppm as CaCO₃^-; Electrical conductivity (EC) for surface water was 233-645 ?Scm^-1 and that of ground water was 750-987?Scm^-1. Total dissolved solids (TDS) for surface water were 161.1-451.9 ppm and ground water were 490.7-690.9 ppm. Chloride content for surface water was 81.79-131.78 ppm and ground water was 13.06-57.36 ppm; alkalinity for surface water was 398.21-539.73 ppm HCO₃^- and ground water was 373.81-495.80 ppm HCO₃^-; Nitrate for surface water and ground water was 2.10-5.20 ppm and 0.09-2.8 ppm respectively. Concentrations of Pb and As were within the permissible limit. Surface water was suitable for fish culture and agriculture purposes. However, a few water samples were found to be contaminated with Mn and Cd. It is concluded that the quality of ground water in the area is in general good for drinking, agriculture, industrial or domestic purposes.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2.14830

J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(2): 275-280 2012