River Pollution in

Bangladesh

Name IDShahriar Nizam Shishir 1310204630

Tania Akhter 1311247630

Pinku Deb Nath 1310610042

Md. Sefat 1320064030

Group Members

GROUP NO- 4

ENV-107Section: 6

River PollutionRiver pollution is a form of water pollution which refers to the

introduction of different chemicals and other pollutants such

as sewage, food waste and farm effluents into rivers.

Bangladesh has about 230 small and large rivers, and a large

chunk of the country's 140 million people depend on them for a

living and for transportation. Experts say many of them are

drying up or are choked because of pollution and encroachment.

Before the pollution of Buriganga

After the pollution of Buriganga

A World Bank study said four major rivers near Dhaka -- the Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu -- receive 1.5 million cubic metres of waste water every day from 7,000 industrial units in surrounding areas and another 0.5 million cubic meters from other sourcesTable-1

Water Quality Status of Major Rivers in Bangladesh, 2010.

Table-2: Categories of Major River Water Pollutants:

Categories of River Water Pollutants

Pollutant Category Examples of Sources

Dead organic matter Raw sewage, agriculture waste, urban garbage

Pathogens Human and animal excrement and urine

Organic chemicals Agriculture use of pesticides and herbicides

Nutrients Phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculture and urban land use

Heavy metals Agriculture, urban, and industrial use of mercury, lead, selenium, cadmium and so on

Acids Sulfuric acid from coal and some metal mines: industrial processes that dispose of acids improperly

Sediment Runoff from construction sites, agriculture runoff, and natural erosion

Heat Warm to hot water from power plants and other industrial facilities

Radio activity Contamination by nuclear power industry, military and natural sources

Source: Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh.

Causes Of River PollutionThe greatest threat to our rivers are human actions most of which take place on land rather than water. River pollution is most often caused by a combination of different factors which makes the rivers’ water quality extremely difficult to control. Some of the most common causes of river pollution include: • Industrial waste• Agricultural pollution• Sewage• Oil pollution• Airborne pollutants

Industrial waste• A number of industries produce highly toxic

waste which too often ends up in rivers. • Although possible filtration systems for specific

industries are under development, such as the tanneries in south-western part of Dhaka city, most industries discharge liquid waste without treatment.

• Accidental releases of highly toxic substances into rivers are not uncommon, while some factories even intentionally release toxic chemicals into rivers hoping that they will not get caught.

Agricultural pollution

• Liquid manure (slurry) and pesticides are the greatest agricultural pollutants of our rivers.

• Slurry, which contains phosphates, nitrates etc., is very dangerous for rivers because it causes eutrophication in which the algae overgrow other water plant species which in turn seriously disrupts the balance between the animal species living in rivers.

• Increased bacterial activity leads to oxygen reduction which in turn can cause mass fish death.

• Pesticides are severely toxic to most terrestrial and aquatic creatures and have the same effect as other hazardous chemicals.

Sewage

• Most of sewage ends up in rivers. • Although sewage water is treated before it is

released into rivers in developed countries, such practices are not maintained in Bangladesh.

• Phosphates and food nutrients from the sewage remain a serious river pollutant and often leads to eutrophication.

• Sewage contains all kinds of toxic chemicals which are flushed down the toilets and drains.

• Human waste may contain viruses, bacteria and parasites which often spread into the river waters, i.e. cholera etc.

Oil pollution

• Dangerous chemicals released into the air, from kilns used to make bricks for instance, can fall back on earth with rain and pollute the soil as well as rivers.

• Nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides released from car exhaust and industries produces acid vapor and fall back as acid rain which imbalances the ph of the river waters.

Airborne pollutants

• Rivers play an important role in transportation which, however, poses a constant risk of oil spills.

• Most of oil pollution comes from reckless human behavior such as pouring used car oil into drains or directly into rivers.

Effects of pollution

Due to some reasons, river water are getting polluted. And for this reason human, animal, plants, ecological balance, nature, country’s economic conditions are being effected directly or indirectly. It carries diseases. This is affecting to most 3rd world countries like Bangladesh, Some Africa regions, where people get untreated water directly from the river.

EffectsRiver pollution has a

devastating effect on both the environment and human health.

It always cause mass fish death.This leads to loss of biodiversity

and even disappearance of some species from particular areas which affects humans as a part of the ecosystem as well.

It create problems with water shortage.

It also seriously threatens human health both directly and indirectly.

Effects

River pollution affects to our national economy.

In this pictures we can see how the toxic pollute river water.

This Pollution kills water plants and animals.

Remedies of river pollutionPopulation Control & Make public Awareness-

Huge population explosion of Bangladesh one of the main reason of

river  pollution.

According to several studies, each day about 900 cubic meters untreated

domestic and industrial effluents are discharged into the Buriganga-

Turagsystem.

Planned  Drainage system-

the existing poor domestic sewage system needs to be improved by

installing proper drainage facilities.

Rajuk, Dhaka City Corporation and the pourashavas must ensure that

people use septic tank systems due to absence of sanitary sewer system.

Remedies of river pollutionIncrease water flow-

Augment the rivers of Bangladesh with freshwater

which will increase the flow of fresh water.

During the dry season, a river has a flow of only

50cubic meter per second (cumec).

BWDB, under Ministry of Water Resources, has already

submitted a project titled "Augmentation of Buriganga

flow by restoring silted up links with Jamuna River' for

the consideration of the government.

Remedies of river pollutionControl disposal of solid wastes by maintaining a

fixed place where all the waste will be managed by

the government and their service provider.

The government must allocate a budget so that

BIWTA can buy sufficient dredgers for routine

dredging of the riverbed for smooth navigation

Move Tannery and other factory and ensure proper

water treatment plant in the factories.

ConclusionEven though the current conditions of rivers in our country is extremely bad, we can improve the situation and reduce the pollution if we increase mass awareness and plan our infrastructures so that wastes are treated before they are discharged.

Shahid Mallick(2012)- RIVER, CULTURE AND LIVELIHOODS:

WATER POLLUTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE AROUND THE

RIVER BANGSHI, BANGLADESH: WATER POLLUTION AND

SOCIAL CHANGE.

http://www.emedicalpoint.com/index.php?page=readmore&id=11

&tag=water%20pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buriganga_River

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZeY7AyfoqU

http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com

http://www.bbs.gov.bd/PageReportLists.aspx?PARENTKEY=41

Reference