Industrial sources of water pollution

And prevention measures

The rivers of Bangladesh are the worse victim of pollution, especially the rivers which stands in the
neighborhood of the Dhaka city is being polluted tremendously. Bangladesh is one of the populated
countries in the world. Day by day ground water and surface water are contaminated with different
contaminants. Both surface water and ground water sources are contaminated with different
contaminants like toxic trace metals, coliforms as well as other organic and inorganic pollutants. As most
of the population uses water sources, especially ground water sources which contain in elevated
amount of arsenic throughout the country. As a result, health risk regarding consuming water is very
high. In Bangladesh death due to water-borne disease is widespread. Specially in In Bangladesh sewage
and solid waste and industrial waste and effluents are the main cause of surface water pollution.

Causes:

1. Rapid and unplanned urbanization and industrialization, brickfield development, Dying factories,
tanneries, Grabbing up the river.

2. The slum dwellers use unhygienic open latrines, wash clothes; take bath even cows and goats bathe in
the river.

3. Untreated wastes are thrown into the river as most of the industries have no Effluent Treatment
Plant.

According to an industrial survey conducted by Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS) in 2009,
only about 40% industries have ETPs. In 10% industries, ETPs are under construction and about 50%
industries have no ETP establishment. That is, more than 50% of waste generated by the industries
eventually goes to the rivers untreated.

4. Some rivers are used to rot jute plants by the farmers.

5. Oil spills of boats and different water vessel.

6. Using agrochemicals in agricultural land.

Effects:

1. The dissolved oxygen level of many of the rivers’ water has reached at lethal level.

2. Due to over spilling of pollutants during the rainy season, the agricultural lands are contaminated that
they have lost their crop growing capacity and hence remain unused all the year round.

3. Sometimes the pollutants enter food chain eventually killing birds, fish, and mammals.
4. The scientists in a recent research on the Karnaphuli found traces of radioactivity ‘very close to risk
level’ on the soil. If radioactivity of the river soil goes up it will hamper the natural breeding of fish as
well as growth of fishes. If the people eat the affected fish it may spread to their body.

According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation on 2000
(UNSCER), normal level of radiation hazard due to radioactivity is 0.5. The scientists in their research got
0.6507 for external radiation hazard and 0.82 for internal radiation hazard where the risk level is 1.

5. Pollution is so acute that hardly any hydro-organisms can tolerate it and eventually, fish of many
species are found floating dead in the river water. These dead fishes gradually get rotten and highly add
to the further pollution of the river water.

6. Due to rotting jute in the river (Chitra) water the water quality of the river is in an inferior position as
aquatic creatures are dying for lack of oxygen.

7. The river pollution has also hit the local fishermen hard. Life has become difficult for them as they lost
their income source.

8. This also results in the alteration of geomorphic features which can then change in the geometry and
sedimentary characteristics of river channels, flood plains and deltas.

9. Industrial pollutants such as lead, cadmium, iron, copper and organic wastes from leaking sewage
systems can accumulate in rivers. Referred as bioaccumulation, this process can ruthlessly affect water
quality and species survival. More importantly, bioaccumulation of metals in fish, crabs and other edible
aquatic species, may cause health problems to enter the food chain. Also, this can destroy the water
aeration system, the self-purifying process of rivers.

10. Eutrophication, a process of absorbing excessive nutrients (especially N and P) beyond their
buffering capacity of water bodies leads to the loss of species diversity through increased species
mortality, changes in species collection and loss of aquatic flora and fauna diversity.

Some steps to minimize pollution in last few years: preventive measures

There is always a try to minimize pollution. Tongi Industrial Area have unanimously decided for
establishing and operating a central ETP with their concerted effort with a view to tackling the Turag
River pollution (Prothom-Alo, August 31, 2010). Some projects are initiated to lessen this huge pollution
by the government though these all are not effective always.

The government has taken a decision to shift the tannery industry from Hazaribagh to Savar. The water
board designed sluice gates on the Jamuna near the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge from where the
waters would be diverted to the Buriganga.

To save the river from the encroachers and pollution as well as their existence, the sampan majhis
organised a three-day sampan khela (boat race) and Chantgaiya (Chittagong) cultural fair in the river
Karnaphuli. Sampan Majhi Kalyan Samity Federation (SMKSF) in association with Chattagram Anchalik
Sanskriti Academy (CASA) organised the events titled “We are boatmen of the river Karnaphuli and we
have pledged to save the river”.

The most striking reason of pollution river water is the surrounding industries like chemical industries,
dying industries, tanneries etc. According to the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amendment
2010), dyeing factories are “red category” industries and are bound to install and run an ETP.

Some other reasons are also liable for water pollution like rotting jute in river water, human wastes,
domestic wastes, sand lifting etc. The fish resources and other aquatic resources are being lost from
their natural habitat. Fishermen and other people who earn from the river centered activities are being
confused and frustrated about their source of income as river water has gone under threat.

While the leather sector brought home hundreds of millions of dollars in export earning over the
decades, its pollution took its toll on the fish resources, the economic value of which had never been
calculated.

The rivers which are closed to the Dhaka city such as Buriganga, Turag, Balu etc. have become more
polluted than the others as most of the industries are situated near by these rivers. The slum houses and
housing company also worsen the situation.

The pollution spot near the Buriganga Third Bridge experiences huge toxic chemical liquid waste from
the Hazaribagh Tannery area through Bashila Khal. There are about 149 tanneries in Hazaribagh which
daily generate about 18,000 liters liquid and about 115 metric tones solid waste almost all of which get
released into the river Turag through Bashila and Katasur khals. The other extreme pollution spot is near
the Tongi Bridge that derives massive pollutant loading from the Tongi Industrial Area. This industrial
area possesses about 29 heavy industries. This cluster of industries of the capital city generates 7,159 kg
effluents daily (IWM, 2008).

The Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) and the World Bank conducted a survey of pollution in Dhaka
Rivers in 2007 that showed there are over 300 various effluent discharge outlets in the capital and
Narayanganj.
Most of the rivers, the lifeline of our country, have been polluted severely. If we can’t stop polluting the
river now, those rivers will soon become lifeless river. Recent surveys claim that in some parts of
polluted river, the level of pollution is so high where in no fish can survive! We, the general people of
Bangladesh and other authorities should come forward to save our national asset, our rivers.

The government should inspect whether the etps are operated properly or not because all the industries
having ETPs don’t keep them operational all the time; Integrated land and water management
approaches towards effective river restoration policy should be implemented without delay; Strict
enforcement of the existing environmental policy should be ensured and revised; The slum house should
be eradicated from the river bank ensuring the habitation for slum people; Alternative way for waste
disposal should be introduced other than the river water and If possible new rules and regulations
should be introduced and implemented strictly.