Analysis of Water Quality Using Chemical Parameters and Metal Status of Balu Rivers’ Water at Dhaka, Bangladesh

Balu River at Dhaka city has become polluted due to industrial effluents, untreated sewage and municipal waste. The chemical parameters and metal status of water of Balu River at surface water level and subsurface water level at ten different locations (twenty samples) were studied during winter and rainy seasons in 2008. In the winter season, the mean value of Sodium was 12.41±2.17; Magnesium was 3.73±0.38; Chloride was 144.07±17.49; Nitrate was 7.04±1.01; Bicarbonate was 294.57±50.47 and Sulphate was 25.55±3.85 at surface water level. The concentration of the chemical parameters of River water in rainy season is less than that of winter season except Sodium (22.51±3.71) and Calcium (22.66±1.80). In the winter season, the mean value of Copper was 0.16±0.04; Chromium was 1.02±0.24; Zinc was 0.38±0.08 and Iron was 0.16±0.02 at surface water level. In the rainy season, the mean value of Copper was 0.08±0.04; Zinc was 0.05±0.02; and Iron was 0.04±0.02. The concentration of the metals of river water in rainy season is less than that of winter season. A significant positive correlation was found between Sodium and Chloride while significant negative correlation was found between Sodium and Iron, Zinc and Copper. Results suggest that river water was found unsuitable for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes in respect to Chromium and Bicarbonate contents.