Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University

Assignment on: Ground water fluctuations in Northwestern Bangladesh (Over last

30 years) Impact on environment

Course Name: Soil Mechanics

Course Code: ESE-2111

SUBMITTED BY:

Mozakkir Azad
Roll no: 20103429
Session: 2019-2020
2nd Year 1st Semester
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering

SUBMITTED TO:

Dr. Mohammad Mofizur Rahman Jahangir

Professor
Department of Soil Science
Bangladesh Agriculture University
Mymensingh

DATE OF SUBMISSION: October 16, 2022

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 Content

Topics Page No.

1.Introduction 04

2. Groundwater Meaning 05

3. North Western Pant in Bangladesh 06

4. Groundwater Aquifer in Northwestern Part of Bangladesh 07

5. Groundwater Management in Northwestern Part of Bangladesh 08

6. Groundwater Recharge in Northwestern Part 09

7. Geo-statical Analysis Of groundwater level fluctuation in shallow 10

aquifers of Northwestern Part of Bangladesh
8. Fluctuation of groundwater table 13

Problem of groundwater development 14

16
Groundwater pollution from Northwestern Cities and industries

Conclusion 17

References 18

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 Figure

No Topic Page

01 North Western Part of Bangladesh 06

02 Physiographic map of Bangladesh (Alam et al, 1991) 07

03 Groundwater Management in Bangladesh 08

04 Groundwater Recharge in Some Thana 09

05 Study area and data collection points 10

06 Hydrographs for groundwater level at two monitoring stations. 10

07 Histogram plot of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 11

08 Histogram plot(log) of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 11

09 QQPlot of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 11

10 QQPlot(log) of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 12

11 Trend analysis of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 12

12 Semivariogram cloud for GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020 12

13 Northwestern part Groundwater Development (1998-2012) 15

14 Alarming concentration level of Cr, Al and Fe in topsoil of 16

Hazaribagh leather processing area, Dhaka city (dZahid et al.,
2004)

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Introduction:

Worldwide, groundwater provides over 97% of accessible freshwater, half of the drinking water,
and approximately half of the irrigation water for agriculture. In Bangladesh, scarcity of surface
water has made groundwater an essential source to supplement dry season water demand to meet
urban, industrial, and irrigation requirements. Groundwater abstraction has tremendously
increased in Bangladesh since the 1980s. Currently, it supplies 79% of the water demand for
irrigation, livestock, household, and industrial usages. In the North-West (NW) region of the
country, about 95% of irrigation water comes from groundwater, which is extracted, mainly, by
shallow tubewells (STW) and deep tubewells (DTW), in addition to some small-capacity pumping
technologies, such as hand pumps, popularly known as hand tubewells (HTWs), rower pumps, and
treadle pumps. There are now 1.77 million irrigation pumps in the country, of which 1.56 million
are STWs. In addition to irrigation, most STWs also supply water for domestic usage. Groundwater
in Bangladesh is a renewable and dynamic natural resource. It maintains that dynamism by
recharging, mainly in the wet or monsoon season (June–September) through monsoon rainfall and
flooding, and receding during the dry season (April–May) due to withdrawal for various usages,
especially for irrigation. Irrigated crop fields also contribute to groundwater recharge; especially,
for shallow aquifers much of the irrigation water returns to aquifer. Prior to widespread abstraction
of groundwater from the mid-1980s and onwards, water tables in the mostly unconfined aquifers
of Bangladesh were generally shallow with a weak seasonal fluctuating trend. After the monsoon
period, groundwater tables were near, or in some places, very close to the ground surface. At the
end of the dry season, GWTs receded, mainly due to evapotranspiration and inter-basin flow out
of the aquifers. Much of the potential recharge from rainfall and flooding in the monsoon period
was rejected due to the limited storage capacity of the aquifers. However, with increasing
abstraction of groundwater, GWTs fall at a greater rate during the dry season, when pumping for
various usages and base flow to the rivers deplete the aquifers. The deepest GWTs are now found
from April to mid-May and the shallowest GWTs are found in November. Most parts of the NW
region of the country are flood-free zones and the main source of groundwater recharge is rainfall,
which is also the lowest in this region. Moreover, the expanding presence of plough pans due to
the increasing practice of conservation agriculture, and especially, the thick sticky clay surface
(6.10-21.34 m) of the Barind Tract act as aquitards and hinder groundwater recharge by increasing
surface runoff. As a result, groundwater use in the Barind area has exceeded recharge and GWTs

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have been successively falling over the years, with increasing withdrawal of groundwater for
irrigation. Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, and Rangpur were identified as the severely
depleted areas, with depletion of GWTs between 2.3 m and 11.5 m. However, it is not clear
whether the declining groundwater levels in the rest of the NW region results from excessive use
or an observed decline in rainfall, or from a combination of these and possibly other factors. GWTs
at many areas in the NW region fall below 8 m during March–May in each year, causing water
scarcity for domestic supply, agriculture, and secured livelihood . Here, water scarcity implies the
lack of access to adequate quantity of water for human, animal, and environmental requirements.
Therefore, groundwater use in the Barind area, especially from shallow aquifers, has become
unsustainable. Population growth, agricultural pollution, urbanization, climate change, and poor
water management practices are threatening the water resources in Bangladesh and are challenging
to their sustainable management. Changes in the spatial-time series (1990-2010) of pre-monsoon
and post-monsoon groundwater depths in the NW region of Bangladesh suggest that if the current
level of groundwater usage continues, the resulting GWTs will decline continuously with a
potential long-term threat to the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. Consequently, groundwater
research needs to be focused both in its thematic and critical areas, due to the appearance of
unexpected or unanticipated problems. Continuous monitoring of groundwater is required to know
the dynamic equilibrium or non-equilibrium nature of the groundwater resources in the aquifers
and the associated sustainability issues of the groundwater resources. Trend analysis of
hydrological and meteorological data is needed to explain the dynamic behavior of GWTs. The
trend of GWTs, indicating general direction of their change or development, reveals the condition
of groundwater resources in terms of sustainability. Since GWTs in the NW region of Bangladesh
have been successively falling over the years, the trend of GWTs and associated sustainability
status of groundwater availability in the region are important topics for investigation. The trend of
GWTs, especially with latest data sets, is needed to adjust groundwater development and
management policy. The locations of critical depth of GWTs for operating suction mode pumps
can identify the places with water scarcity for irrigation and domestic needs. The goal of this study
was to know the long-term trend of the yearly maximum and minimum depths of GWTs from
ground surfaces in the NW region of Bangladesh over the past 30 years (1985–2022).

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2. Groundwater Meaning:

Ground water occurs almost everywhere beneath the land surface and is an integral part of a
complex hydrologic cycle that involves continuous movement of water on Earth. The widespread
occurrence of potable ground water is a major reason for its use as a source of water supply
worldwide. Furthermore, much of the world's food is produced by irrigated agriculture, which
relies on ground water. Ground water plays a crucial role in sustaining streamflow during dry
periods and is vital to many lakes and wetlands. In addition to human uses, many plants and aquatic
animals depend upon the ground water that discharges to streams, lakes, and wetlands. Ground
water is a hidden resource. Information is gained at individual wells and spring locations, through
indirect methods of measurement such as surface geophysics, and by measurements of flow and
water level at hydrologically connected water bodies such as streams, lakes, and wetlands. These
data are used to infer the occurrence, movement, and properties of ground water.

3. North Western Part of Bangladesh:

Northwestern parts is Mostly Rajshahi and Rangpur Division in Bangladesh.

Figure 01- North Western Part of Bangladesh

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4. Groundwater Aquifers in Northwestern part of Bangladesh:

Generally, four major physiographic units exist at the surface of Bangladesh (Figure 1). These are, (a) Tertiary
sediments in the northern and eastern hills; (b) Pleistocene Terraces in the Madhupur and Barind Tracts; (c) Recent
(Holocene) floodplains of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers and (d) the Delta covering the rest of
the country. Most of the present land surface of the country covered by the Holocene flood plains deposited by the
GBM river systems. About 6000 year ago sea level was much lower and the major rivers dissected deep channels
adjacent to the Madhupur and Barind Tract areas. Deltaic floodplains with some Pleistocene terraces constitute the
major part of the Basin. Basinal sediments consist primarily of unconsolidated alluvial and deltaic deposits except the
complex geology area of pre-quaternary sediments that cover the northeastern and southeastern hilly areas of the
country. Together with the tertiary sedimentary sequences the maximum thickness of the deposit is more than 20km.

Figure 2-. Phygiographic map of Bangladesh (Alam et al, 1991)

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5. Groundwater management in Bangladesh:

Groundwater is a vital resource for drinking water, and for industrial, commercial, and agricultural
uses. Best practices in groundwater management and its use are critical to keeping water supplies
available and safe for future generations.

While 70% of the earth is covered by water, only 1% is available for use by humans. And 99% of
that 1% comes from groundwater. Groundwater is found in the cracks and spaces in the soil, sand,
and rock beneath our feet. It is stored in and moves through aquifers. Groundwater is replenished
by rain and melted snow. This essential source of fresh water for communities around the world
faces threats from pollution and water shortages from overuse. Septic tanks, landfills, leaking
underground gas tanks, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers pollute groundwater, making it
unsafe for human consumption.

It is vital that local government and public organizations educate the public to implement best
practices in conserving and keeping groundwater clean. Public and private water and wastewater
utilities also need to institute methods to cut water waste and to monitor the health of local water
supplies.

Figure 3: Groundwater Management in Bangladesh

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6. Groundwater Recharge in Bangladesh:

To calculate groundwater recharge of the NW , groundwater level data of 73 monitoring wells for
the period of 1991–2010 have been used. The average net groundwater recharge in the area varies
from 153 mm in Patnitala to 580 mm in Godagari with an average of 325 mm. The previous study
showed that groundwater recharge ranges from 109 to 572 mm with an average of 330 mm. There
is no notable difference between the estimated average net groundwater recharge and previously
estimated groundwater recharge . However, there are notable variations in some Upazilas.
Groundwater recharge in some Upazilas in the study area has been increased in comparison to the
previous study. The increasing amount of groundwater recharge may relate to the favorable
recharge structures created by BMDA such as re-excavation of Kharis, rivers, etc. Groundwater
recharge in some places of BT increases, but declining trends in wet-season groundwater level
indicates recent groundwater storage depletion.

Picture 4: Groundwater Recharge in Some Upazilas

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7. Geo-statistical Analysis of Groundwater Level Fluctuations in the Shallow
Aquifer of Northwestern Bangladesh:

The location of study area in Bangladesh and data collection points is shown in figure 05.

Figure 5: Study area and data collection points

GW level data is available in 25 stations in the study area. These data is used to plot GW hydrograph with
12-month moving average. The pattern of groundwater level fluctuation is observed by plotting
hydrograph. In this study 13 years’ (1996-2008) GW level data is analysed. The analysis shows 7 types of
nature of hydrograph for all 25 monitoring stations. Figure 2 shows two different types of hydrograph at
two diffent stations for groundwater level data from 1996 to 2008.

Figure 6: Hydrographs for groundwater level at two monitoring stations.

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 Figure 7: Histogram plot of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

Figure 8: Histogram plot(log) of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

Figure 9: QQPlot of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

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Figure 10: QQPlot(log) of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

Figure 11: Trend analysis of GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

Figure 12: Semivariogram cloud for GWL data (dry) in 1991-2020

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8. Fluctuation of Groundwater Table:

With increasingly growing demands on the groundwater supplies, areas of urban as well as rural
Bangladesh have started facing water problems, including the drying up of wells during peak irrigation
period and continuous lowering of water table mainly in city areas. Study has estimated that nearly 30
km3 of groundwater was abstracted for irrigation throughout Bangladesh during the Boro rice season in
2006 (Shamsudduha 2013). Considering an average daily groundwater use of 50 liters per person for both
drinking and domestic uses (total population of 150 million in 2006) an estimated domestic groundwater
use is approximately 3 km3 which is an order of magnitude less than irrigation abstraction. Analysis of
long-term water table data of BWDB piezometers installed in upper and deeper part of aquifers shows
that hydrographs are very variable in different parts of the country (WARPO 2000). On the other hand a
degree of similarity is also found between different hydrographs. The impact of groundwater
development can often be observed from hydrographs (Figure 3.6 and Figure 3.7). Groundwater recedes
more during the dry season and the rise is often delayed. Generally, groundwater withdrawal from the
shallow aquifer for domestic and irrigation purposes during dry periods is balanced with the vertical
percolation of rain water and inflow from surrounding aquifers during monsoon when pumping is ceased.
No permanent declining of water table is observed, except urban areas and in the Barind tract. Seasonal
water table fluctuation is more in the central and northern part of the country where groundwater
irrigation is extensive and this fluctuation is low or even nil near the coastline as groundwater irrigation
in the southern coast is negligible due to salinity problem in upper aquifers. In Dhaka city, permanent
declining trend of groundwater level is observed due to excessive withdrawal for city water supply and
around Dhaka city for industrial withdrawal. Groundwater table contour map of greater Dhaka shows that
maximum depth to groundwater table in Dhaka city is more than 60 m and in surrounding industrial areas
this is within 9 to 18 m during dry period (Figure 3.8). During monsoon, the groundwater table rise steadily
until the levels are within 1-2 m of the surface. During the peak irrigation season in March and April, the
hydrograph is fairly smooth since years and steepest rise in the hydrograph is observed immediately after
the irrigation pumps are switched off rather than at the start of the monsoon as might be expected. Using
weekly monitoring records of groundwater levels throughout Bangladesh (Shamsudduha et al. 2011)
shows that shallow groundwater levels are declining at a high rate in the recent time (1985 – 2005).
Declining rates are highest (exceeding −0.5 m/year) in and around Dhaka City and Barind Tract region, and
high (0 to −0.05 m/year) in areas south of the River Ganges. In the coastal areas, shallow groundwater

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levels are showing stable to slightly rising trends (0 to +0.1 m/year) over the same period. Withdrawal by
shallow irrigation wells may also influence the huge fluctuations in water levels in the deeper aquifers.
These levels in the deeper part recover rapidly when seasonal pumping stops. This rapid recovery, parallel
to water levels in shallow aquifer, reveals that shallow and lower aquifers are hydraulically connected.
Huge irrigation abstraction of shallow groundwater during dry irrigation period has impact on
groundwater levels in deeper part of aquifers (down to 350 m) and where abstraction is negligible like in
coastal areas groundwater levels in deeper part remain steady and close to the surface.

9. Problems of Groundwater Development:

The substantial drawdown of aquifers due to over-exploitation of groundwater during the last decade has
been widely documented (Jahan et al. 2010; Shahid 2011). Using data from the Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB), we have determined that in areas with water tables less than 8 m in depth,
decline has increased significantly over time. Between 1998–2002, this area was only ~4% of the country’s
total, but increased to 11% in 2008 and 14% in 2012 (Figure 7). The most significantly affected areas lie
in the north-west (e.g., Braind Tract) and north-central (i.e., Madhupur Tract) regions. These are areas of
intensive boro cultivation and exhibit declining long-term groundwater trends (Shamsudduha et al. 2009).
In the north-western region, water tables are declining steadily but more slowly (0.1- 0.5 m year-1), making
the use of STWs tapping shallow aquifers unsustainable for intensive boro irrigation (Shamsudduha et al.
2009; Dey et al. 2013).

In contrast, groundwater levels are slowly rising in southern Bangladesh, a consequence of seawater
intrusion and tidal movement (1.3–3.0 mm year-1), creating waterlogged conditions (Brammer 2014). In
the coastal zone, three groundwater aquifers are recognized: the shallow aquifer, lower shallow aquifer,
and deep aquifer, within 20-50 m, 50-100 m, and 300-400 m of the ground surface, respectively. Shallow
aquifers may consequently be salinity affected, whereas little concrete information is available for deep
aquifers (Mainuddin 2013). Unlike the north-west, water tables are generally shallow and remain consistent
for most of the year, except slight increases during the monsoon season..

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Picture 13: Groundwater Development (1998-2012)

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10. Groundwater Pollution from NWs Cities and Industries:

Industrial activities are responsible for increased heavy metal levels in soils and sediments in many areas
of the country. Sediment contamination by heavy metals is an important issue of increasing environmental
concern. Increased unplanned urbanization and industrialization have already affected the environmental
components; air, soil, sediment and water of the NWs city area.

The tannery effluents discharged directly to the nature create environmental problems. Presence of higher
accumulation of Cr, Al and Fe in topsoils (down to investigated 6m) with significant amount of Mn, Zn, Ni
and Cu were observed (Figure 9), which has already influenced the quality of shallow groundwater.

Figure 14. Alarming concentration level of Cr, Al and Fe in topsoil of Hazaribagh leather processing area,
Dhaka city (dZahid et al., 2004)

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11. Conclusion:

From the analysis it is found that, the GW level is lowering in almost all the region of the study.
The middle portion is sharing more than the surrounding areas. This middle portion consists of
Paba, Mohanpur, Bagmara, Boalia and Durgapur. For continuing cultivation in this zone, it is
essential to ensure proper recharge of GW. Irrigation required water should be managed from
alternative source. Strong and effective water management works must be ensured to prevent
drought and sustain the present cultivation work in Rajshahi district, northwestern of Bangladesh.
The present study can be concluded with the following decisions:

• The spatial maps show the groundwater level in the study area is lowering day by day.
• This scarcity of GW is caused due to excessive extraction and dependence on GW for irrigation
and other purpose.
• Lacks of surface water for irrigation is also responsible for the huge extraction of GW.
• Demand of GW is increasing for the extension of agricultural lands and cropping intensities.
• Paba, Mohanpur, Bagmara, Boalia and Durgapur area have been found as critical areas that are
facing acute GW problem.
• This study suggests that less extraction and proper recharge must be ensured immediately and
to find alternative water source of GW. Effective water management steps are also being inspired
by this study.

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12. REFERENCES:

1. Alice M. (2011). Research Report on Water Scarcity in Northern Bangladesh. Ahmeduzzaman,

Shantanu K., Abdullah A. (2012). A Study on Ground Water Fluctuation at Barind Area, Rajshahi.

2. Asaduzzaman, M. and Rushton, K.R. (2006). Improved yield from aquifers of limited aturated
thickness using inverted wells. Journal of Hydrology, Vol 326, 311–324. Islam, M.M. and
Kanumgoe, P. (2005). Natural recharge to sustainable yield from the Barind aquifer: a tool in
preparing effective management plan of groundwater resources. Water Sci Technol 52:251-258.

3. Northwestern part Groundwater Development (1998-2020)

4. Northwestern part Groundwater Development (1998-2020)

5.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326612145_Sustainable_Groundwater_Management_in_Cont
ext_of_Climate_Change_in_Northwest_Bangladesh

6. https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/8/8/94

7.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319087899_Geostatistical_analysis_of_groundwater
_level_fluctuations_in_the_shallow_aquifer_of_Northwestern_Bangladesh

8. https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/groundwater

9. http://fpmu.gov.bd/agridrupal/sites/default/files/ToR-2.pdf

10. http://www.kuet.ac.bd/webportal/ppmv2/uploads/157442934534-GWL Geostatistical-ICCESD-

2014.pdf

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