Preliminary Assessment of Quality of Water in Gazipur District, Bangladesh

Total 26 water samples were collected in BSMRAU campus and in Gazipur District where BSMRAU is situated, Bangladesh, in March （the late dry season） 2001. Samples were taken from surface water （river, pond, lake, canal and reservoir） and ground water. Ground water was found to be suitable to drinking or irrigation. Quality of surface water varied with sampling locations and water sources. Among surface-water samples, the concentration of NO_3^--N was highest for water taken from the Turag River （3.6 mg/L） followed by water from the Belai River （2.5mg/L）. The P concentration was also highest for water of the Turag River （0.34mg/L）. Discharge of municipal waste water from houses along the river, in addition to inflow of N fertilizer applied to agricultural fields, was proposed to the contamination of the Turag River. Progress of eutrophication or pollution in small rivers in Gazipur District may cause a serious impact on environment and human health in future. Detailed and comprehensive assessment is strongly requested