River pollution is a major problem in Bangladesh. Many of the country's 230 rivers are polluted due to untreated industrial and agricultural waste, as well as sewage. Four rivers near Dhaka receive over 2 million cubic meters of wastewater per day. Common causes of river pollution include industrial waste, agricultural runoff containing pesticides and animal waste, sewage, oil, and airborne pollutants. River pollution has devastating impacts on the environment and human health, including mass fish deaths, loss of biodiversity, water shortages, and spread of diseases. Solutions include increasing public awareness, improving drainage systems, increasing river flows, and better management of solid wastes and industrial discharges.

2. Name ID
Shahriar Nizam Shishir 1310204630
Tania Akhter 1311247630
Pinku Deb Nath 1310610042
Md. Sefat 1320064030
Group Members
Section: 6

3. River Pollution
River pollution is a form of water pollution which refers to the
introduction of different chemicals and other pollutants such as
sewage, food waste and farm effluents into rivers.
 Bangladesh has about 230 small and large rivers, and a large chunk
of the country's 140 million people depend on them for a living and
for transportation. Experts say many of them are drying up or are
choked because of pollution and encroachment.

4. Before the pollution of
Buriganga
After the pollution
of Buriganga

5. A World Bank study said four major rivers near Dhaka -- the Buriganga,
Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu -- receive 1.5 million cubic metres of waste water
every day from 7,000 industrial units in surrounding areas and another 0.5 million
cubic meters from other sources
Table-1
Water Quality Status of Major Rivers in Bangladesh, 2010.

6. Table-2: Categories of Major River Water Pollutants:
Categories of River Water Pollutants
Pollutant Category Examples of Sources
Dead organic matter Raw sewage, agriculture waste, urban garbage
Pathogens Human and animal excrement and urine
Organic chemicals Agriculture use of pesticides and herbicides
Nutrients Phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculture and urban land use
Heavy metals Agriculture, urban, and industrial use of mercury, lead, selenium, cadmium and so on
Acids Sulfuric acid from coal and some metal mines: industrial processes that dispose of acids improperly
Sediment Runoff from construction sites, agriculture runoff, and natural erosion
Heat Warm to hot water from power plants and other industrial facilities
Radio activity Contamination by nuclear power industry, military and natural sources
Source: Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh.

7. The greatest threat to our rivers are human actions most of
which take place on land rather than water. River pollution
is most often caused by a combination of different factors
which makes the rivers’ water quality extremely difficult to
control. Some of the most common causes of river
pollution include:
• Industrial waste
• Agricultural pollution
• Sewage
• Oil pollution
• Airborne pollutants

8. • A number of industries produce highly toxic waste which
too often ends up in rivers.
• Although possible filtration systems for specific
industries are under development, such as the tanneries
in south-western part of Dhaka city, most industries
discharge liquid waste without treatment.
• Accidental releases of highly toxic substances into rivers
are not uncommon, while some factories even
intentionally release toxic chemicals into rivers hoping
that they will not get caught.

9. • Liquid manure (slurry) and pesticides are the greatest
agricultural pollutants of our rivers.
• Slurry, which contains phosphates, nitrates etc., is very
dangerous for rivers because it causes eutrophication in
which the algae overgrow other water plant species
which in turn seriously disrupts the balance between the
animal species living in rivers.
• Increased bacterial activity leads to oxygen reduction
which in turn can cause mass fish death.
• Pesticides are severely toxic to most terrestrial and
aquatic creatures and have the same effect as other
hazardous chemicals.

10. • Most of sewage ends up in rivers.
• Although sewage water is treated before it is released
into rivers in developed countries, such practices are not
maintained in Bangladesh.
• Phosphates and food nutrients from the sewage remain a
serious river pollutant and often leads to eutrophication.
• Sewage contains all kinds of toxic chemicals which are
flushed down the toilets and drains.
• Human waste may contain viruses, bacteria and parasites
which often spread into the river waters, i.e. cholera etc.

11. • Dangerous chemicals released into the air, from kilns
used to make bricks for instance, can fall back on earth
with rain and pollute the soil as well as rivers.
• Nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides released from car
exhaust and industries produces acid vapor and fall back
as acid rain which imbalances the ph of the river waters.
• Rivers play an important role in transportation which, however,
poses a constant risk of oil spills.
• Most of oil pollution comes from reckless human behavior such
as pouring used car oil into drains or directly into rivers.

12. Effects of pollution
Due to some reasons, river water are getting polluted.
And for this reason human, animal, plants, ecological
balance, nature, country’s economic conditions are
being effected directly or indirectly. It carries diseases.
This is affecting to most 3rd world countries like
Bangladesh, Some Africa regions, where people get
untreated water directly from the river.

13. Effects
River pollution has a devastating
effect on both the environment
and human health.
It always cause mass fish death.
This leads to loss of biodiversity
and even disappearance of some
species from particular areas which
affects humans as a part of the
ecosystem as well.
It create problems with water
shortage.
It also seriously threatens human
health both directly and indirectly.

14. Effects
River pollution affects to our national economy.
In this pictures we can see how the toxic pollute river
water.
This Pollution kills water plants and animals.

15. Remedies of river pollution
Population Control & Make public Awareness-
 Huge population explosion of Bangladesh one of the main reason of
river pollution.
 According to several studies, each day about 900 cubic meters untreated domestic
and industrial effluents are discharged into the Buriganga-Turagsystem.
Planned Drainage system-
 the existing poor domestic sewage system needs to be improved by installing
proper drainage facilities.
 Rajuk, Dhaka City Corporation and the pourashavas must ensure that people use
septic tank systems due to absence of sanitary sewer system.

16. Remedies of river pollution
Increase water flow-
 Augment the rivers of Bangladesh with freshwater which will
increase the flow of fresh water.
 During the dry season, a river has a flow of only 50cubic meter
per second (cumec).
 BWDB, under Ministry of Water Resources, has already
submitted a project titled "Augmentation of Buriganga flow
by restoring silted up links with Jamuna River' for the
consideration of the government.

17. Remedies of river pollution
Control disposal of solid wastes by maintaining a fixed
place where all the waste will be managed by the
government and their service provider.
The government must allocate a budget so that BIWTA can
buy sufficient dredgers for routine dredging of the riverbed
for smooth navigation
Move Tannery and other factory and ensure proper water
treatment plant in the factories.

18. Conclusion
Even though the current conditions of rivers in our
country is extremely bad, we can improve the situation
and reduce the pollution if we increase mass awareness
and plan our infrastructures so that wastes are treated
before they are discharged.

19. Shahid Mallick(2012)- RIVER, CULTURE AND LIVELIHOODS: WATER
POLLUTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE AROUND THE RIVER BANGSHI,
BANGLADESH: WATER POLLUTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE.
http://www.emedicalpoint.com/index.php?page=readmore&id=11&tag=water%
20pollution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buriganga_River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZeY7AyfoqU
http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com
http://www.bbs.gov.bd/PageReportLists.aspx?PARENTKEY=41