Irrigation Water Quality Assessment and Identification of River Pollution Sources in Bangladesh: Implications in Policy and Management.

Due to uncontrolled rapid industrialization and the lack of decisive and effective policy framework, river water pollution is posing an increasing threat to surface water irrigation in Bangladesh. In this paper, irrigation water quality and possible sources of pollution in the watershed of the Khiru River have been assessed. Results indicate severe degradation in water quality likely to cause serious damage to crop production. The presence of severe alkali hazards and heavy metals pose further threats to the future. Multivariate analysis suggests that industrial and municipal wastewater may be a possible cause of such degradation. The immediate formulation and implementation of water pollution prevention policies and strategies are therefore recommended to minimize farming threats to 7000 ha of land and 20,000 families depending on the river for survival