Water Quality Parameters: A Case Study of Turag River, Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract

This thesis examines the water quality of the Turag River in Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, through a detailed analysis of physicochemical and bacteriological parameters, based onfield data collected in 2025 and compared with 2018 measurements. Key parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, were evaluated to assess the river’s ecological health and suitability for use. Results indicate severe contamination, characterized by critically low DO levels (0.23–1.30 mg/L) signaling hypoxic conditions, elevated BOD (up to 8.39 mg/L), and high turbidity (up to 69.1 NTU), primarily driven by untreated industrial effluents, municipal sewage, and agricultural runoff from the Tongi industrial zone. These conditions render the river water unfit for drinking, irrigation, or aquaculture without comprehensive treatment, posing significant risks of waterborne diseases and through eutrophication and habitat degradation. The study highlights the urgent need for advanced wastewater treatment systems, stringent regulatory enforcement, real-time water quality monitoring, and community-led conservation initiatives to mitigate pollution and restore theecological integrity of the Turag River, providing a model for sustainable urban rivermanagement in Bangladesh.