Chattogram Bureau :
The Karnaphuli is the most important river in the Chattogram region, the second largest city of Bangladesh. Many industries and slaughterhouses are located in the city, and most of the effluents from these industries enter directly or indirectly into the Karnaphuli, often without any pretreatment.
Sewage containing large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds discharged into aquatic environment is a major concern of pollutions it induces excessive algal growth and resulting eutrophication. Presence of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds containing nutrients in river water may have adverse physiological effects on humans and may interfere with growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms.
Sewage polluted water is also a significant source of epidemic threat due to the presence of disease-causing bacteria. In developing countries like Bangladesh, many latrines are connected directly to the river and the Karnaphuli is not an exception. Consequently, fecal contamination is a frequent occurrence in this river.
Therefore, pollution of the Karnaphuli is a major concern for public health and environment. Pollution of water bodies is a major threat to public health worldwide. The Majority of the industrial effluents and wastes of this region enter into this river through numerous streams and channels resulting in pollution spreading across a large area. Because a large population depends on this river for drinking and household waters causinga great concern for public health.
Many natural and anthropogenic activities including rapid urbanization, industrialization, population growth, lack of waste management etc. have greatly increased pollution of the river. Assessed the level of water pollution of this river based on several standard physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Contaminated water is a major source of infectious diseases.
Because the water of the Karnaphuli is used for drinking and recreational purposes by a large population, it is important to determine the health risks the water poses. Microbiological quality of water is critical parameter to measure health risks. . Surface waters often receive gut microbiota from humans and other animals and therefore disseminate the pathogens in the environment.
Many poor and vulnerable populations live in the surrounding areas and many of them use the river water without any treatment for subsistence, the water poses significant health risks for these people. According to the master plan, the absence of sewage treatment plants (STP) is one of the major causes behind the river pollution. Due to the absence of STP, 70% of the household water directly finds its way into the Karnaphuli.
Moreover, as many as 50,000 sanitary and 24,000 unhygienic traditional latrines of the port city are directly linked to the river. The port city of six million people produces a staggering 2500 tons of waste every day, which is dumped under the open sky in two landfills.
Due to the absence of a proper waste management system, the waste gets washed away with rainwater and mixes with the river. Besides, there are 400 slaughterhouses in the port city’s Firingi Bazar and Dewanhat areas alone. The blood from the slaughtered animals directly finds its way into the river.
A large amount of fuel is spilled whenever there is a collision between oil tankers. On October 25, at least 10 tons of diesel was spilled into the Karnaphuli River, following a collision between two oil tanker s.The thick layer of oil caused a shortage of oxygen in the water. Besides, polluted water from fertilizer run-off finds its way into the sea and hampers the growth of underwater plants.
Consequently, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level falls, posing a threat to the aquatic animals. Fifty-two small and large canals of the port city carry 22,000 tons of waste, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable, to the Karnaphuli River every day. The non-biodegradable waste such as polythene gets deposited on the riverbed.
Moreover, the people living on the banks of the canals dump household waste directly into the canals, which ultimately finds its way into the river. Unplanned hill-cutting and filling up catchment areasHills are razed in many areas of the city for constructing structures; rainwater then washes away sand-mixed soil from the hills and obstructs free flow of water in the canals.
The catchment areas have lost their water retention capacity. As a result, the waste can easily mix with the river water. The non-biodegradable waste released by the industries gets deposited on the riverbed, making the dredging work much more difficult. The Chittagong Port Authority found a layer of 8ft to 10ft polythene while dredging the river. Light, medium, and heavy industries should be set up in separate zones, but the industrial zones of the port city did not follow the norms. That is why the management of industrial waste is greatly hampered.
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Chittagong Wasa are tasked with the overall waste management of the port city, with specific responsibilities for each entity. The CCC is tasked with managing mainly household waste, while CWASA is mandated to manage sewerage.
The Karnaphuli is the most important river in the Chattogram region, the second largest city of Bangladesh. Many industries and slaughterhouses are located in the city, and most of the effluents from these industries enter directly or indirectly into the Karnaphuli, often without any pretreatment.
Sewage containing large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds discharged into aquatic environment is a major concern of pollutions it induces excessive algal growth and resulting eutrophication. Presence of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds containing nutrients in river water may have adverse physiological effects on humans and may interfere with growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms.
Sewage polluted water is also a significant source of epidemic threat due to the presence of disease-causing bacteria. In developing countries like Bangladesh, many latrines are connected directly to the river and the Karnaphuli is not an exception. Consequently, fecal contamination is a frequent occurrence in this river.
Therefore, pollution of the Karnaphuli is a major concern for public health and environment. Pollution of water bodies is a major threat to public health worldwide. The Majority of the industrial effluents and wastes of this region enter into this river through numerous streams and channels resulting in pollution spreading across a large area. Because a large population depends on this river for drinking and household waters causinga great concern for public health.
Many natural and anthropogenic activities including rapid urbanization, industrialization, population growth, lack of waste management etc. have greatly increased pollution of the river. Assessed the level of water pollution of this river based on several standard physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Contaminated water is a major source of infectious diseases.
Because the water of the Karnaphuli is used for drinking and recreational purposes by a large population, it is important to determine the health risks the water poses. Microbiological quality of water is critical parameter to measure health risks. . Surface waters often receive gut microbiota from humans and other animals and therefore disseminate the pathogens in the environment.
Many poor and vulnerable populations live in the surrounding areas and many of them use the river water without any treatment for subsistence, the water poses significant health risks for these people. According to the master plan, the absence of sewage treatment plants (STP) is one of the major causes behind the river pollution. Due to the absence of STP, 70% of the household water directly finds its way into the Karnaphuli.
Moreover, as many as 50,000 sanitary and 24,000 unhygienic traditional latrines of the port city are directly linked to the river. The port city of six million people produces a staggering 2500 tons of waste every day, which is dumped under the open sky in two landfills.
Due to the absence of a proper waste management system, the waste gets washed away with rainwater and mixes with the river. Besides, there are 400 slaughterhouses in the port city’s Firingi Bazar and Dewanhat areas alone. The blood from the slaughtered animals directly finds its way into the river.
A large amount of fuel is spilled whenever there is a collision between oil tankers. On October 25, at least 10 tons of diesel was spilled into the Karnaphuli River, following a collision between two oil tanker s.The thick layer of oil caused a shortage of oxygen in the water. Besides, polluted water from fertilizer run-off finds its way into the sea and hampers the growth of underwater plants.
Consequently, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level falls, posing a threat to the aquatic animals. Fifty-two small and large canals of the port city carry 22,000 tons of waste, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable, to the Karnaphuli River every day. The non-biodegradable waste such as polythene gets deposited on the riverbed.
Moreover, the people living on the banks of the canals dump household waste directly into the canals, which ultimately finds its way into the river. Unplanned hill-cutting and filling up catchment areasHills are razed in many areas of the city for constructing structures; rainwater then washes away sand-mixed soil from the hills and obstructs free flow of water in the canals.
The catchment areas have lost their water retention capacity. As a result, the waste can easily mix with the river water. The non-biodegradable waste released by the industries gets deposited on the riverbed, making the dredging work much more difficult. The Chittagong Port Authority found a layer of 8ft to 10ft polythene while dredging the river. Light, medium, and heavy industries should be set up in separate zones, but the industrial zones of the port city did not follow the norms. That is why the management of industrial waste is greatly hampered.
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Chittagong Wasa are tasked with the overall waste management of the port city, with specific responsibilities for each entity. The CCC is tasked with managing mainly household waste, while CWASA is mandated to manage sewerage.
