Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Its Implications for Sustainable Water Management in southwestern region of Bangladesh: A Study in Mongla Upazila, Bagerhat on Hydrogeochemical Parameters

Author: Saif Khan Sunny, FarjanaAkther Koly, Abdul Awal Ahammed, Syeda Jasia Firdaws
DOI: doi.org/10.70279/bmj-v1-1097

The coastal region of Bangladesh, especially Mongla Upazila in the Bagerhat District, is vulnerable to groundwater contamination caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Saline water intrusion, influenced by tidal dynamics and human activities such as shrimp farming, has extremely effected groundwater quality. This study confidently set out to evaluate the physicochemical and hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in Mongla Upazila, focusing on parameters such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and major ions of groundwater. Utilizing water quality index (WQI) methods, the study assessed the groundwater potability and found out that all sampling stations surpassed the allowable thresholds for
drinking water, showing severe contamination. Specifically, 28.6% of the samples were categorically identified as poor, 28.6% as very poor, and 42.9% as entirely unfit for consumption. These findings emphasize the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management practices to reduce the intensity of saline water intrusion, protect public health, and guarantee water security in that area. For these purpose, strong recommendations include the implementation of managed aquifer recharge (MAR), rainwater harvesting (RWH), and reverse osmosis (RO) techniques, along with enhanced governance and community engagement to tackle water quality challenges effectively.