An Assessment of Groundwater Chemistry of Barind Tract in Bangladesh with Special Reference to Carbonate Weathering

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Saha, S.K. | Kumar, Uthpal | Rahman, Masudur

Affiliations: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh | 1Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000. subrotakumar_saha@yahoo.com

Abstract: This study was conducted on geochemical characterization of ground water in Chapai-Nawabgonj Municipality area which is situated in the northwestern part of Bangladesh and southwestern part of Chapai-Nawabgonj District with an area of 24.6 sq. km. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the major sources of water chemistry and its suitability for potable and domestic needs. To complete this research work, 20 samples were collected from 15 different wards located in the Chapai-Nawabgonj Municipality area and analyzed to characterize the water geochemically. The analysis reveals that the major chemical composition of ground water is controlled by the rock-water interaction in the aquifer. The chemical constituent of water is mostly Ca^{2+}-Mg^{2+}-HCO_3^- type and shows temporary hardness of water in Municipality boundary. The major parameters concentrations suggest that water quality of shallow aquifer in Chapai-Nawabgonj is quite satisfactory and meets the standard guideline value of drinking water of DoE, Bangladesh and WHO.

Keywords: Geochemical characterization, carbonate weathering, potability

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 51-58, 2009