IONIC CONSTITUENT OF GROUND WATER OF BALIADANGI UPAZILA FOR IRRIGATION, DRINKING AND INDUSTRIAL USAGE

Abstract

In this study, ground water Samples were collected and studied from Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh in dry seasons of the year 2014 and analyzed their quality and suitability for agricultural, industrial and drinking purposes. To study the various physiochemical and microbiological parameters, water samples were collected from 15 deep tube wells, 18 shallow tube wells, and 17 hand tube wells. Analyses were included as pH, EC, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ , K+ , Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+ and Fe3+), anions (HCO3 - , SO4 2- , PO4 3- and Cl- ) and also computed several variables such as hardness, SAR (sodium adsorption ratio), SSP (soluble sodium percentage), RSC (residual sodium carbonate), permeability index, permeability salinity, Gibb’s ratio (Anion & Cation) and Kelly’s ratio to evaluate the suitability of groundwater supply for specific use. Some correlations and compositional relations were also evaluated. Overall we found that the groundwater samples were acidic in nature (pH varied from 5.4 to 6.9) and could be suitable for drinking, agricultural and industrial uses. According to TDS and SAR values, all samples were classed as ‘freshwater’ and ‘excellent’ categories. The soluble sodium percentage (SSP) of all the samples was under ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ classes. Regarding hardness maximum samples were within ‘soft’ class, some were ‘moderately hard’ and only three samples (sample no. 18, 27 and 45) were ‘hard’. All samples were ‘suitable’ according to RSC. Based on the contents Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, SO4 2- , NO3 - and Cl- , groundwater samples of the study area were within the ‘safe’ limit for drinking. In comparison with the national and international standards, the water sources of the study area (Baliadangi, Thakurgaon) were within the safe limit and recommended for drinking, agricultural, industrial and livestock use