The study was conducted to investigate the effects of solid waste and industrial effluents on the water quality of Turag River. Both the upstream and downstream sampled water from the selected points were analyzed for color, odor, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. Results of the study showed that the color of water was light to dark black and emitted noxious smell due to the industrial effluents. The upstream water was slightly alkaline with comparatively high DO content while low concentration of other parameters. The water after the solid waste and effluents received points as well as middle and downstream points was slightly alkaline with higher levels of other parameters when compared with upstream point. The minimum and maximum values of pH, EC, TDS, DO and BOD were 7.24-7.61, 425-2277 µS/cm, 239-1349 ppm, 1.22-3.66 ppm and -2.44-0.86 ppm, respectively. The continuous dumping of waste materials resulted in a marked increase in the concentration of metals in the river water varied in the order of Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. The study concluded that the downstream water in the river was almost polluted and unsuitable for human consumption and aquaculture purposes.

Rapid development of textile industry and direct deposition of the effluents into sewage networks produced disturbances in treatment processes and exert pollution loads on water bodies. The study was conducted to investigate the water quality parameters discharged from seven textile dyeing industries at Konabari in Gazipur region of Bangladesh during March to December, 2011, and also to evaluate the harmful effects of effluents on the surrounding environment. Emphasis was given on the investigation of important water quality parameters, which include temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), along with the management techniques of effluents discharged from textile dyeing industries. The study depicted that the DO values were nil or below the standard values in all industries which was very alarming for environment. The concentrations of BOD, COD, TDS and TSS were very high which indicate the presence of water pollutants. The study was focused on the pollution implications of effluents from textile industries around the study area, because of the risk of human exposure and environmental degradation by these massive discharged effluents. The water quality deteriorated in dry season than the wet season and the surface water around the studied area was highly polluted due to the industrial activities and should totally avoid for human consumption without proper treatment. It is therefore recommended that the careless discharge of the effluents should be discouraged and appropriate management system should be taken immediately to reduce the water pollution for saving the environment.

This study is designed to explore the local people survival strategies and assesses variation in people's ability to cope with flood and riverbank erosion of two char land (Mid-channel Island) villages of Bangladesh. The data were collected by the application of social survey, key informant interview, focus group discussions and field observation. Most of the people of the char land villages were affected by both flood and river erosion. The result of the study showed that devastating river erosion occurred in Shushua char as compared with Degreer char in 2010 and people tried to adapt with adverse situation by their own techniques. People of both the chars were experienced flooding more than two months in the same year. Household's ability to adapt with flood and river erosion depends on people's socioeconomic and environmental conditions, such as education, income and occupation. Though, flood and river erosion cause the loss of lives and properties, people's indigenous coping techniques could significantly reduced their vulnerability without outside assistance. Effective early warning system, integrate local coping practice with modern technology and improve socioeconomic condition in a sustainable way are necessary to reduce the losses from flood and riverbank erosion.

Abstract:The study was conducted to investigate the iron (Fe) contamination in groundwater at Tangail municipality during the period from January to June 2011. Groundwater samples were collected from 18 locations, where 15 were tube-wells, 2 deep tubewells and 1 pump. The result of the study showed that the highest level of Fe (24.50 mg/l) was found at Dewla north, while the lowest level (1.03 mg/l) was recorded from Bepari para. The highest and lowest amount of Fe was found in ward 1 and 4, respectively. The results were compared with the Bangladesh drinking water quality standards as well as with the international standards. In Bangladesh, permissible limit of Fe is 0.3-1.0 mg/l, whereas WHO standard level is 0.3 mg/l. All the samples were exceeded the standard levels of Fe, whereas ward 1, 2 and 7 were worstly affected. The study also reveal that the availability of Fe does not depend on the type of water sources, but it depends on the aquifers or water table. If the aquifer contains Fe, then the tube-well water will contain Fe or vice versa. These higher Fe concentrations found in the study area may be harmful for those families who are consuming the water from these sources on regular basis. Thus, to overcome this problem the consumers should not drink these higher amounts of Fe, and they should find other sources or replace the tube-well or treat the water before drinking and other domestic and household purposes.

The study showed that most of the farmers (81.81%) in char area of flood lands were affected by flood as their crops were washed away by flood water as agricultural lands (59%) were inundated in a high magnitude flood. During flood, almost 88.89% farmers pass their days having no alternative occupation, and cannot afford to meet basic needs of their family as most of the Char lands were inundated for about two or three months, resulting in no crop production during that period. People reside in roads, schools and even on the top of the roof as there was no flood shelter in the study area. Besides these, rehabilitation programs were also not sufficient. It is also revealed that siltation over agricultural land reduces its fertility and productivity. To cope with this problem, people of Char land formulated and undertaken various adaptation techniques in their own way which varies depending on their socio-economic and environmental aspects, such as education, income, occupations and living conditions, as there was no organizational support. Finally, the study recommended that the policy makers and implementers along with non-governmental organizations should take their own responsibilities focusing the devastating situation of the previous flood in the study area. Also, the farmers should grow the flood tolerant varieties of crops in the area to mitigate loss of production and to lead a sustainable life.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 28(2): 123-135, Dec-2015