Evaluation of Surface Water Quality at Selected Points of Buriganga River and Sewer Line

Abstract

Buriganga is one of the largest rivers in the southern part of the north-central region of Bangladesh, flowing through the south and west part of Dhaka. The river is one of the most important and heavily polluted waterbodies in Bangladesh. The river receives a significant amount of untreated wastewater from domestic, industrial, and commercial sources, causing severe environmental and health impacts. This paper aims to examine the nature and extent of wastewater pollution in the Buriganga River, its impact on the ecosystem, and the challenges associated with mitigating the problem. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including a literature review, field surveys, and water quality analysis. The results show that the Buriganga River is severely contaminated with various pollutants, including heavy metals and organic compounds, exceeding the permissible limits set by national and international standards. This paper examines the water quality of the Buriganga River during the summer and autumn seasons for three different points. Various parameters, including pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, and total dissolved solids (TDS), as well as heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ni), were tested to assess the river's water quality. The results showed that the Buriganga River had poor water quality during both seasons, with several parameters exceeding the permissible limits set by regulatory authority. According to the observation of physicochemical parameters, wastewater coming from sewer lines is more polluted than river water. The study highlights the urgent need for immediate action to improve the water quality of the Buriganga River and protect the health and well-being of the local population and the environment.