Vulnerability Assessment and Groundwater Resources Planning for Tongi Industrial Area, Bangladesh

Abstract

Groundwater pollution risk assessment from industries has been conducted in order to prepare a water resources management plan for Tongi, the largest and oldest industrial area of the country. Most of the over 200 industries located there discharge untreated solid and liquid wastes into lowland or open water bodies posing serious threats to water resources. DRASTIC model has been used to assess groundwater pollution risk of the study area and Geographical Information System (GIS) overlay procedure has been used for producing various maps. A Groundwater Vulnerability Map (GVM) has been prepared on the basis of seven hydrogeological parameters of DRASTIC model for identifying low, moderate and high vulnerable zones. The high vulnerable zone encompasses the low lying areas along the water courses whereas the central relatively elevated part has been found to be least vulnerable. Potential Hazardous Activity Map (PHAM) and Hot-spot Map have been prepared to show the point sources of pollution located at different risk zones. Finally, a Groundwater Resources Planning Map (GRPM) has been produced based on DRASTIC vulnerability index. The GRPM exhibits that the low lying area near riverbanks as the high risk zone which should not be used for polluting industries. However, industrial activities may take place within the low risk zone confined to the central elevated area. This approach can be applied for other industrial areas of the country for preparing groundwater management plans.