Evaluation of groundwater quality and environmental health in the coastal belt of Khulna, Bangladesh

Md. Tajuddin Sikder[1], Nur Alam Mistri[2], Md. Shiblur Rahaman [3], Noshin Saiara[4]
Page No. 113-122

The study comprised suitability assessment of groundwater of western peri-urban area of Khulna
City Corporation (KCC) for drinking and irrigation use. A total of 40 groundwater samples
representative of 4 different seasons were collected from 5 different sampling locations from
Rayermahal to Sachibunia to analyse major physico-chemical parameters and trace metals
according to the Standard Methods. The results of the study, comparing with the World Health
Organization and Bangladesh Standards, reveal the suitability of the groundwater for drinking
purpose. Suitability for irrigation was also assessed and found low as most of the calculated
parameters reveal high values which can render salinity and alkali hazard to soils on long term use
in irrigation. The results shown that all the groundwater samples were contaminated with high
salinity in the study area, and are in the ‘Doubtful to Unsuitable’ or ‘Unsuitable’ category and are
unsuitable to irrigate all soils.
Keywords : Groundwater, quality assessment, drinking purpose, microbial contamination, WHO,
irrigation purpose, SAR, KI.