ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SADAR UPAZILA OF PANCHAGARH DISTRICT

Abstract

Water samples were collected from different locations of Sadar upazila of Panchagarh district of Bangladesh and analyzed for quality assessment. Samples were collected from groundwater sources of 25 primary school and 25 high schools. Analyses included pH, EC (Electrical conductivity), temperature, TDS (total dissolved solids), cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), anions (HCO3-, SO4 2-, PO4 3- and Cl-). Several computed variables such as SAR (sodium adsorption ratio), SSP (soluble sodium percentage), Hardness (HT), permeability index (PI), Kelly‟s ratio, potential salinity, Gibbs ratio and water quality index were studied to evaluate the quality of water for specific uses. Almost all the water samples were acidic in nature (pH value varied from 5.49 to 6.11 for primary school and 5.44 to 6.21 for high school). All the samples were fresh on the basis of TDS (average 60 for primary school and 60 for high school). For hardness all the samples were moderately hard (average 31.58 for primary school and 38.04 for high school). Based on SAR values, all samples were classed as „excellent‟ in quality (average 3.40 for primary school and 2.67 for high school). In respect of SSP, all the water samples were classed as „suitable‟ (average 61.59 for primary school and 56.38 for high school). According to EC values almost all the collected water samples were categorized as „good‟ (average 202.40 for primary school and 274.40 for high school respectively) for irrigation. On the basis of Ca, K, Na and Mg, content the all water samples can safely be used for irrigation and would not affect the soils. Based on RSC values, all water samples were classed as „suitable‟ (average -0.02 for primary school and -2.64 for high school). Some correlations and compositional relations were also evaluated. For primary school sample no. 3 of Amarkhana sample no. 7 and 8 of Chaklahat and sample no. 5 of Harisbhasha for high school were the best sources for drinking purposes. For primary school sample no. 3 of Amarkhana sample no. 7 and 8 of Chaklahat and sample no. 5 of Harisbhasha for high school were the best sources for drinking purposes. Based on the observed results, it can be concluded that the water samples of groundwater in Sadar upazila of Panchagarh district of Bangladesh were suitable for drinking purposes.