Assessment the Drinking Water Quality of Different Upazila of Shariatpur District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Aims: Numerous human and environmental factors, such as soil composition, agricultural runoff, heavy metals, arsenic, bacteria, and too-dissolved particles, have affected the drinking water quality in the Shariatpur District in central Bangladesh. In order to address this problem, the main objective of this work is to evaluate the drinking water quality in Shariatpur District utilizing significant attributes. Study Design: Experimental work. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Z.H.Sikder University of Science and Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Shariatpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between September 2024 to June 2025. Methodology: A total of 49 water samples were collected from tube wells in seven administrative areas and analyzed for key chemical parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), total solids (TS), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity and alkalinity. pH, TDS, and EC of water samples were measured by a digital Adwa AD-100 pH tester and a digital Adwa AD-32 TDS meter respectively. TSS was determined by filtration method. While carbonate and bicarbonate were determined by titration method. Salinity was determined from the value of TDS. Results: The results revealed moderate spatial variability. Most samples exhibited pH levels within the neutral to slightly alkaline range, suggesting stable water chemistry. However, several locations, especially in char regions such as Kalmir Char, Goriber char and Muktarer Char, displayed elevated TDS and TSS values, exceeding the Bangladesh national standards. Salinity and EC, was the significant issues in many parts of the district, especially in char areas, Bhedarganj Upazila and Damudya Upazila where values exceeded 3500ppm and 3,000 µS/cm respectively. In case of alkalinity, majority of sites falling within the high category to moderate levels but damudya upazila predominantly shows high alkalinity, with a peak measurement of 232 mg/L recorded in Damudiya Paurashava. Conclusion: This research contributes new regional water quality data to the field of environmental engineering and supports evidence-based approaches for the development of policies aimed at improving public health and environmental sustainability.