EVALUATION OF GROUND WATER QUALITY OF BIROL AND BOCHAGONJ UPAZILLA IN DINAJPUR FOR IRRIGATION AND DRINKING USAGE

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was performed to determine the chemical constituents of groundwater for irrigation and drinking uses in the selected site of Birol and Bochagonj Upazila under Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Thirty six and eighteen water samples of groundwater source were collected from different locations of Birol and Bochagonj Upazila, respectively for the determination of chemical constituents. The research work was accomplished to assess the extent of water quality and to predict the suitability and acceptability for drinking and irrigation usage. Groundwater samples collected from selected areas were classified by analyzing chemical constituents present therein. Several parameters like Ca, Mg, HCO3, Fe, Mn, pH, EC, TDS, SAR, SSP, HT, permeability index and Kelly‟s ratio were considered for the classification. In the study areas, the water contained an appreciable amount of Ca, Mg, Na, K. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and SO4, which concentrations were found within safe limit for drinking and irrigating crops. The pH value of all the water samples indicating slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and found `suitable' for irrigation and drinking. On the combination basis of EC and SAR, all samples were low salinity and low alkali hazard. All the samples were graded as „fresh water‟ based on TDS and “excellent” based on SSP, collected in Birol and Bochagonj upazilla. As regards to hardness, 12 samples were „Soft‟ and 24 samples were „Moderately Hard‟for irrigation but 27 samples were „Highest Desirable‟ and 9 samples were „Desirable‟ for drinking in Birol upazilla and for Bochagonj upazilla, all samples were „moderately hard‟ for irrigation but 12 samples were „Highest Desirable‟ and 6 samples were „Desirable‟ for drinking. All the waters under test were suitable and might be recommended for drinking and irrigating agricultural crop in the study area. The present investigation indicated that the analysis of groundwater is important for proper understanding of the irrigation and drinking. It is suggested that drinking and irrigation water should be analyzed systematically for understanding the impact of dissolved ions on the quality crops and soil health management in the entire area.