Evaluation of Pollution Status of Turag River, Bangladesh

Abstract

A study was carried out on Turag River with a view to observe and identify the present
pollution status of river water quality. A total of 30 water samples were collected from five
different locations adjacent to the Turag River. To study the water quality status, different
physical and chemical properties such as pH, Color, Turbidity, Iron, Arsenic, Electrical
Conductivity, Total Hardness, Chloride, Biological Oxygen demand (BOD), TDS, TSS, NH3-
N, NO2-N, PO4, Free Chlorine, Temperature, Alkalinity were investigated. The study
revealed that Turag river water properties changed with different months. Water color was
found as highly objectionable. The water exhibited the pH value 6 to 9 that indicated nature
of the water both alkaline and acidic. The recorded Electrical Conductivity (EC) from 80 to
952 μs/cm. The recorded biological oxygen demand (BOD5) ranged from 0 to 40 mg/L. Due
to the increased values of the parameters pH, Color, Turbidity, Iron, Arsenic, Electrical
Conductivity, Total Hardness, Chloride, Biological Oxygen demand (BOD), TDS, TSS, NH3-
N, NO2-N, PO4, Free Chlorine, Temperature, Alkalinity water from these locations was not
suitable for human consumption without appropriate treatment.