Meghna River's Physicochemical Parameters and Water Quality Index at Munshiganj, Bangladesh: Impact of Pollution and Water Management.

Abstract

Using the Water Quality Index (WQI) to evaluate water pollution levels and overall water quality suitability for different purposes, this study evaluates the physicochemical properties of surface water in the Meghna River in Munshiganj district. Between January and October 2023, seasonal water samples were taken from three different locations to examine the distribution of various parameters during the dry and wet seasons. These parameters included temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and turbidity. In the dry season, mean BOD values were 7.7 ± 2.52, while in the wet season, mean turbidity values were 56.8 ± 7.59 NTU. Both of these values exceeded the standard limits of < 6 mg/L and ≤ 10 NTU for drinking water purposes set by the Environment Conservation Rule (ECR 2023). The results of the statistical analysis showed both strong connections and considerable differences between the parameters. With values above 200 in both dry and wet (except from St-3) seasons, the WQI data show that the river water is highly contaminated and categorized as very poor water. These results point to a decline in water quality that is most likely caused by human activity, specifically the direct release of household wastewater. The study emphasizes the critical necessity for ongoing monitoring and efficient management techniques to prevent future degradation of the river's water quality.