Water Quality Assessment of the Balu and Turag Rivers: A Case Study in Bangladesh
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Abstract
Water pollution has substantial adverse effects on ecological balance, agricultural productivity, and major public health risks for the Balu and Turag Rivers in Bangladesh. The study examines physical-chemical elements of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), hardness, arsenic, iron, chlorides, nitrates, and phosphates against both national DoE and international WHO standards. The study obtained surface water samples from predetermined areas around industrial emission sites and urban sewage points and agricultural drainage areas. Fatigued by extensive contamination both the Balu River and Turag River overwhelmingly exceeded national and international standards with arsenic (6 mg/L), iron (0.67 mg/L) and COD (75 mg/L) concentrations in the Balu River and arsenic (11 mg/L), nitrates (12 mg/L) and phosphates (1.76 mg/L) in the Turag River. Industrial wastewater along with agricultural irrigation waste and raw domestic sewage combined to create pollution in the water bodies. The environmental well-being needs swift implementation of enhanced pollution controls that encompass modern wastewater facilities and tightened industrial management and eco-friendly farming systems. Monitoring activities should operate continually under DoE and WHO guidelines to maintain sustainable ecological well-being and human health preservation
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References
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