Water Quality of Madari Khal Tributary of the Halda River, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Tidal canal Madari-Khal is one of the important tributaries of the river Halda, through which nearby hill stream water, agricultural washings, and effluents (treated or untreated) of Chattogram Asian paper Mill are drained to the Halda River. In this paper water quality and pollution level of Madari Khal are presented. A one-year study was conducted to ascertain the water quality and pollution level by using different physicochemical parameters i.e. Air temperature, Water temperature, Transparency, EC (Electrical Conductivity), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), pH, DO (Dissolved Oxygen), freeCO2, Ca++ (Calcium), TH (Total Hardness), TA (Total Alkalinity), and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5). WAWQI (Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index) showed that the water quality of the Madari Khal tributary was poor (C grade) and unsuitable for human consumption and fish and other aquatic lives. The study might be useful to policymakers, planners, and local users to manage the water quality in pollution-free conditions