Potential Impacts of Industrialization on Coastal Fresh Groundwater Resources in Bangladesh

Mahfuzur R Khan, Fuad Hasan, Majidul Islam, Masuma Chowdhury, Sumiya Sadeak, Al Amin, Farhad Hossain and Kazi Matin Ahmed
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Mahfuzur R Khan: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Fuad Hasan: Mineral Processing Center (MPC), Institute of Mining, Mineralogy, and Metallurgy (IMMM), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Joypurhat 5900, Bangladesh
Majidul Islam: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Masuma Chowdhury: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Sumiya Sadeak: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Al Amin: Department of Oceanography and Hydrography, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Pallabi, Mirpur-12, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Farhad Hossain: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Kazi Matin Ahmed: Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Bangladesh is overly dependent on groundwater and the demand in the near future is expected to increase, as the country is experiencing rapid development and industrial growth. This study assesses the prospect and sustainability of groundwater in Mirsharai Upazila, Chattogram, where a large industrial area, namely ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN)’, is taking shape. The physical aquifer system was characterized and groundwater quality was mapped. There is one thick aquifer in the northernmost part of the upazila, which splits into three separate aquifers in the south. Water quality indexing suggests that the deep (>130 m) groundwater throughout upazila is good ( n = 5) to excellent ( n = 18), while the shallow groundwater is mostly poor to unsuitable for both drinking and irrigation purposes. Because of the close proximity to the sea and the presence of thick clays above the deep freshwater aquifer in the BSMSN area, heavy industrial abstraction poses a threat to the lateral intrusion of seawater and land subsidence. Even a small subsidence in the project area at only a couple of meters above sea level would jeopardize the entire project. This study recommends limiting the use of the deep fresh groundwater for the current population of the upazila.

Keywords: groundwater quality; industrialization; water quality index; BSMSN; subsidence; coastal groundwater; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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