International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(2), 103-111, February (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.
An Evaluation of Environmental and Social Impact due to Industrial Activities -A Case Study of Bangshi River around Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), Bangladesh Alam Mahbub, Hasnine MD Tanvir and Liza Tahara Afrin Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, 1342, BANGLADESH Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 8th January 2014, revised 17 th January 2014, accepted 16 th February 2014
Abstract This paper reports the environmental and social impacts of industrial activities with special focus on Bangshi River and its surrounded areas. Bangshi River and adjacent areas in the vicinity of Dhaka export processing zone (DEPZ) were selected for the study. Various parameters like pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolve solid (TDS) was determined to see the quality and suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes of water samples. Flow rate of polluted Nolam Konda canal which is connected from the discharge point of different industries in DEPZ to Bangshi River was estimated. The study reveals the most industries in this area use large volume of water but without efficient wastewater treatment plants and so routinely discharge their wastes directly into the river. It also reveals the unfavorable influence of industrial activities which are responsible for the impacts on study areas. The investigation indicates that the water samples are found unsuitable for aquatic life, human consumption and also not safe for irrigation and domestic purposes. Periodic monitoring of water quality indicators is therefore essential for assessing and protecting the integrity of the ecosystem. It has the advantages of identifying changes in water quality, discovery of rising water quality problems, the evaluation of pollution control measures, the effectiveness of observance and how to respond in an emergency response.
Keywords: Industrial activities, water quality, environmental impact, social impact, Bangshi River, Bangladesh
Introduction Development Board (BWDB), the country has as many as 310 rivers of which 54 major rivers are shared with India while 3 are “No life without water’’ is a common saying, as water is the shared with Myanmar. The Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, essential requirement of all life supporting activities. From Brahamaputra, Teesta, Surma and Karnaphuli are considered the different sources water can be obtained such as wells, ponds, principal rivers of the country which are also at the same time, rivers, lakes etc. but unfortunately, clean, pure and safe water the play land of nature as cyclone, seasonal floods and river exists only briefly in nature and is immediately polluted by erosions are very common. existing environmental factors and human activities and hence water from most sources is unsuitable for consumption and The 238 kilometer long Bangshi River is one of the important 1 other purposes without some sort of treatment . Destruction tributaries of Barhamaputra-Jamuna river system in Bangladesh trends of water are the key to human survival, development which is the central property resource for local people. progressions and success. However, the current global fresh water source is alarming for sustainable development. The water By the River bank fewer villages are situated like Kanda, use conflicts among different sectors i.e. agriculture, industry Kaichabari, Subandhi, Dagartali, Nolam, Hajipur, Sinduria, and urbanization and pollution of surface/river water due to Noyapara, Pathalia and so on. Most of the people from these industrialization and other anthropogenic causes are too high in mentioned villages are directly and indirectly depended on this developing country. river. “About 2,68,900 people live in this area with 84% of households being involved in fishing, and 15 % of households Bangladesh is said to be the land of rivers. Although this global are full time fishers (before establishing DEPZ, 1993)” 3. This recognition is largely attributed to the ‘floods’ and not the river had great fame because of its fish and the water of Bangshi extensive network of rivers and other water bodies that this River was used in agricultural purposes, household purposes country is blessed with, the fact remains that lives and and so on before industrial activities. livelihood in this riverine country are intertwined with its rivers and the innumerable number of other water bodies. It is often As of today, the contribution of agriculture in GDP is highest argued that if the definition of wetlands as given in the Ramsar 22% and absorbing largest 48.1% employments of the country Convention is applied, then two-thirds of the total area will be while industrial production and manufacturing contributes 17% 2 recognized as wetlands .According to Bangladesh Water in GDP but no data available of absorbent of labor force 4.
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Industrialization can play significant role in development which Since the initiation of DEPZ, the Banghsi River is consistently will provide the necessary economic boost that will help us being polluted by industrial waste disposal which in turns becoming a poor country to a middle economy country. By threatened the natural environment of the riverine areas. realizing this fact, our policy makers took decision about encouraging industrialization and export-oriented industrial Table-2 setup. The first Export Processing Zone (EPZ) was established Wastewater discharge rate from DEPZ to Bangshi River 7 at the port city Chittagong in 1983 while second one which is Wastewater Cluster Name Discharge point known as DEPZ was established at Savar in Dhaka near river discharge (m 3/sec) Bangshi in 1993 5. DEPZ has 92 industrial units which are EPZ gate 0.633 6 categorically the leading pollution creators . These industrial DEPZ Nolam Konda Canal 1.270 units in number show in table 1. Sokundi Canal 0.181
Figure-2 The present scenario of Bangshi River (water become dark black due to industrial activities)
The main concern in this study is to understand and explain how industrialization and its pollution to rivers induce social change and affects the environment, ecology and livelihoods around the Bangshi River areas. A very important objective of this study is Figure-1 to identify the problems of the area and their possible mitigation Map of Bangshi River process.
Table-1 Material and Methods Number of Industrial units in DEPZ Industries Number Materials: There are various instruments which were used in Cap/accessories/garments 42 this study. They are – i. GPS-Explorist 200, ii. Griffin pH meter, Textile/knitting 22 model No.40, iii. Paul Smith digital TDS Meter, iv. Digital EC Plastic goods 6 Meter (Model CON6), v. Digital camera. vi. Sample bags. vii. Footwear/ leader goods 4 Sample bottle, viii. Location map etc. Metal products 2 Electronic goods 2 Methodology is one of the most important parts of any Paper products 1 investigation. It is the way by which the study is conducted. It Chemical and fertilizer 1 includes some chronological steps that are necessary to Miscellaneous 11 complete the study successfully. Questionnaire survey, visual observation, sampling, mapping and photography methods have
been used in this study.
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Sources of Bangshi River pollution: i. Major type of industries was dipped into the sample water and was kept until the stable include ceramic industry, beverage industry, press and reading was observed. The final reading was recorded. publication, garments industry, foot ware, jute mills, textile mills, printing and dying factory, transformer industry, automobile industry, biscuit and bread factory, pharmaceutical industry, soap factory, brick field, cold storage, welding, plant nursery and so on. Bangladesh Export Processing Zone is located near the river. ii. Textile Dying Industries: There are approximate 80% are textile dying industries dispose their waste water in Dhalai Beel that connected with Bangshi River. In this study area, textile dying industries discharge huge amount of effluents, sewage sludge, and solid waste materials directly into the surrounding area.
Sampling: Sampling Protocol: Sample protocol in field monitoring was followed carefully, foreign particle that may affect the result. Samples were collected very carefully as all interception are based on the analyses report: 1000 ml of Plastic bottle were used for sampling purposes. i. The container was washed prior to sampling with 1M HNO 3 solution and then rinsed thoroughly with de-ionized water. ii. The sample poured in the bottles by a plastic cap. iii. the samples are preserved carefully in refrigerators.
Sample collection : Water sampling was started from upstream of river (the point, 23 056'39'' N - 90 040'00'' E), continued downstream at an interval. Total number of samples collected during field was 13. Location was confirmed by GPS reading. Figure-3 Water samples were collected at each point with water sampler Location of the Sampling point on Google map (Bangshi in the midstream at a depth of 1 to 2 feet to avoid the River) interference of the floating substances. Flow rate determination of polluted Nolam Konda canal: pH Determination : The acidic or alkaline condition of the Flow rate is the amount of fluid that flows in a given time. By water is expressed by pH. The pH of water sample was the determination of flow rate of this canal, it can be assumed determined by using a glass electrode pH meter (Griffin pH that how effectively industrial wastewater drops into the meter, model No.40). The electrode was rinsed thoroughly by Bangshi River. The width and depth of a certain area of the using distilled water and wiped by using tissue paper. The canal was determined and calculated the total area. Mean electrode was dipped into the sample water and was kept until velocity of water was determined through a small leaf spend the stable reading was observed. The final reading was how much time to cross a required distance. Finally, by using recorded. the following formula the flow rate of polluted Nolam Konda canal was determined. EC Determination : The EC measures the salinity of water and depends on the ions present in water 8. The EC of water sample Formula: Q = ū × A was determined by using a digital EC meter (model CON6). The electrode of EC meter was rinsed thoroughly by using distilled Here, Q = Flow rate, ū = Mean velocity, A = Cross sectional water and wiped by using tissue paper. The electrode was area. dipped into the sample water and was kept until the stable reading was observed. The final reading was recorded. Questionnaire survey: A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the TDS Determination : TDS give the total concentration of purpose of gathering information from respondents 10 . Basically, dissolved solids in a water sample. Among these dissolved this methodology was used to collect information about the solids could be phosphates, nitrates, alkalis, some acids, impacts of industrialization near the Bangshi River areas. For sulphates, iron, and magnesium etc 9. The TDS of water sample this survey, respondents were selected whose age limit was was determined by using a Paul Smith digital TDS Meter. The between 25 and 50 years old and directly or indirectly connected glass electrode of TDS meter was rinsed thoroughly by using with the impact of industrial pollution on Bangshi River. distilled water and wiped by using tissue paper. The electrode
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Table-3 Detail of Bangshi River water sample Distance Location PH Sample No. GPS Position EC ( µs) TDS (mg/l) (Km) 23˚56 ʹ39 ʹʹ N 2.42×10 4 Sample 1 0 Kamalshi 8.16 1599 90˚40 ʹ00 ʹʹ E 23˚56 ʹ16 ʹʹ N 2.15×10 4 Sample 2 .96 Norekandi 7.97 1406 90˚13 ʹ52 ʹʹ E 23˚56 ʹ14 ʹʹ N 2.20×10 4 Sample 3 1.03 Nolam 7.77 1450 90˚13 ʹ53 ʹʹ E 23˚56 ʹ05 ʹʹ N 2.12×10 4 Sample 4 1.74 Nolam 7.82 1441 90˚13 ʹ39 ʹʹ E 23˚55 ʹ44 ʹʹ N 2.16×10 4 Sample 5 2.36 Nolam 8.02 1448 90˚13 ʹ35 ʹʹ E 23˚55 ʹ40 ʹʹ N 2.19×10 4 Sample 6 2.57 Pathalia 7.95 1440 90˚13 ʹ28 ʹʹ E 23˚55 ʹ23 ʹʹ N 2.22×10 4 Sample 7 3.14 Pathalia 7.92 1454 90˚13 ʹ34 ʹʹ E 23˚54 ʹ37 ʹʹ N 2.15×10 4 Sample 8 4.48 Noyerhat 7.90 1438 90˚13 ʹ49 ʹʹ E 23˚54 ʹ07 ʹʹ N 2.06×10 4 Sample 9 5.14 Noyerhat 7.79 1367 90˚13 ʹ45 ʹʹ E 23˚53 ʹ44 ʹʹ N 1.87×10 4 Sample 10 5.76 Ghughudia 7.72 1271 90˚13 ʹ51 ʹʹ E 23˚53 ʹ23 ʹʹ N 1.83×10 4 Sample 11 6.2 Ghughudia 7.68 1204 90˚13 ʹ51 ʹʹ E 23˚52 ʹ52 ʹʹ N 1.73×10 4 Sample 12 6.47 Sinduria 7.52 1106 90˚13 ʹ56 ʹʹ E 1.47×10 4 23˚51 ʹ54 ʹʹ N Sample 13 10.01 Sinduria 7.04 980 90˚14 ʹ12 ʹʹ E
Results and Discussion dipped into the sample water and was kept until the stable reading was observed. The final reading was recorded. The result obtained from the physicochemical analysis of water samples collected from thirteen different sampling points (is given in table 3), questioner survey and visual observation. pH: The DOE standard pH value of surface water is 6.5 to 8.5. The pH value for first sample is 8.16 which is also the highest pH value among these 13 samples. Then the pH value slowly decreases for second and third sample. Fourth and fifth sample represents slight increase while the rest samples decreases again. So, among these water samples, pH value shows a trend to decrease with distance as these waters are mixed with high volume river water. Maximum pH value is 8.16 while minimum pH value is 7.04. So, the pH of water sample ranges from 7.04 to 8.16 which remain within the DOE standard.
EC Determination: The EC measures the salinity of water and 8 depends on the ions present in water . The EC of water sample was determined by using a digital EC meter (model CON6). The electrode of EC meter was rinsed thoroughly by using distilled Figure-4 water and wiped by using tissue paper. The electrode was Mean value of pH at different sampling points
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30000
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Figure-8 Change of EC with distance
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Figure-6 Comparison between mean value of pH and DOE standard 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13
DOE standardAxis Title Sample value
Figure-9 Comparison between mean value of EC and DOE standard
TDS Determination : TDS give the total concentration of dissolved solids in a water sample. Among these dissolved solids could be phosphates, nitrates, alkalis, some acids, sulphates, iron, and magnesium etc 9. The TDS of water sample was determined by using a Paul Smith digital TDS Meter. The glass electrode of TDS meter was rinsed thoroughly by using distilled water and wiped by using tissue paper. The electrode Figure-7 was dipped into the sample water and was kept until the stable Mean value of EC at different sampling points reading was observed. The final reading was recorded.
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0 1 3 5 7 91113 Sampling points DOE standard Sample value
Figure-12 Comparison between mean value of TDS and DOE standard
Color and Odor: The color of water of the river was dark black. The smell of the river water was also very offensive. By seeing this characteristic color and having such offensive smell, one can easily conclude that the river may have been seriously Figure-10 polluted. Mean value of TDS at different sampling points
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Figure-11 Figure-14 Change of TDS with distance Color variation of the water sample from Upstream to Downstream of Bangshi River
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Table-4 Impacts on water quality (Field observation) Sources of EC TDS the pH (µS) (mg/l) pollution SW-1 8.08 2.18×10 4 1411 SW-2 7.74 2.33×10 4 1510 Standard SW SW SW value 6-9 1200 2100 The ranges of pH, TDS are within limit. But the limit of EC is out of control. On the Assessment of the pollution (a) Flow rate estimation of polluted canal other hand The color and odor of the river water are not desirable. Local people can’t use this water in any purposes; Impacts on the inhabitants people who get contact with this water are affected by skin irritation. Recommendation for Proper treatment of effluent mitigation by using ETP.
Figure-15 Table-5 The Nolam Kunda canal (a) and its cross section (b) Impacts on Agriculture (Field observation and questionnaire survey) The Width of the canal is 14 ft. and depth is 2.5 ft. Let us Seasonal variation Agricultural Activity consider the average width is 11.5 ft. Dry Season Wet season Surface Surface Then, the cross sectional area (A+B+C) = 1/2×2.5×11.5 = 28.75 Irrigation water source + + ft² = A Ground water Ground Water Paddy, Some Crop pattern Paddy In order to cross 40 feet the water spends 29sec then, Mean vegetables. velocity ū =40/29 = 1.379 ft/sec, flow rate Q = ū × A = 39.646 Fewer varieties of ft³/sec. So, the flow rate of waste water to river is approximately vegetables and Less 40 ft³/sec. Crop pattern change robi crops, less production of
production of paddy. Environmental and Social Impact and Mitigation option: paddy. Environmental Impacts: DEPZ industries are responsible for Low discharging huge amount of effluents into the adjacent Nolam Productivity change Low productivity Kunda Khal (wet land), land, agricultural fields, irrigation productivity channels and surface water and finally enter into the Bangshi Impacts on the Crisis of agricultural products and River. For this a large number of villages are now being inhabitants employment problem of farmers. Use of organic fertilizers, rain threatened by this environmental pollution. Recommendation for water harvesting, limited discharge mitigation Social Impact analysis (based on questionnaire survey): In of untreated industrial effluent etc. brief social impacts can be categories into positive and negative. i. Positive impacts: 1. Employment of local people due to the ii. Negative impacts: 1. Loss of employment of the farmer due development of different industries. 2. Empowerment of to the loss of soil fertility. 2. Demographic change. 3. Change of women. 3. Improvement of local and national economy through occupation. 4. Increasing daily expense due to the changing earning foreign currency. 4. Increasing rate of education. 5. lifestyle. 5. Change in mode of recreation with respect to river Infrastructural development of local area. 6. Development of use pattern. 6. Relocation of housing due to the pungent smell of communication system. 7. The EPZ and other industries create river water. 7. Cultural change. 8. Impacts on health (mainly 350 additional employments for women in the village. skin irritation). 9. Excess increase of mosquito, fly and other insects. 10. Reduction of paddy production due to the loss of
International Science Congress Association 109 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(1), 103-111, February (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. soil fertility. 11. Outbreak of plant diseases. 12. Loss of Mitigation of industrial pollution: Mitigation of industrial navigation system. 13. Deforestation of the adjacent area of the pollution would be required for all the existing industrial Bangshi River. 14. Increasing cost for irrigation. 15. Fisherman clusters considered in this study. Mitigation is also needed for get job only in rainy season. 16. The EPZ and other industries isolated individual industries located outside apart from these make jobless 170 traditional fishing families. clusters. The mitigation strategy could be classified in four broad categories: i. Policy Intervention, ii. Management Table-6 Intervention, iii. Technical Option, iv. Awareness Rising. Variations in social aspects before and after industrial activities Recognizing the recent paradigm shift from costly mitigation Variations measures through treatment to cost-effective environmental Before After management, improved environmental performance in the Issues Industrial Industrial industrial clusters could be achieved through a combination of Activity Activity policy intervention, good management practices, technical Education Low Increase control measures and raise awareness among the owners and Migration of People No Increase general mass.
Occupational Change No Increase i. Policy intervention may include: 1. Ensuring effective Cultural Change Low High environmental assessment through industrial audit 2. Develop Economic Change Low High policy and promotion of cleaner production technology (CP) 3. Introducing pollution charges permit system (polluter pay) 4. Social Security Low Medium Setting realistic ambient standards for different industries 5. Communication Under Developed Include public involvement. ii. Management intervention should Development developed include: 1. Maintaining good housekeeping and internal Aesthetic Change High Decrease environmental management within the industries 2. Adopting Infrastructural Change Low Increase ISO 14000 series in industries 3. Waste reduction in industrial processes and adopt pollution prevention techniques. iii. Technical option may include: Wastewater treatment option for Management and Mitigation Strategy: River restoration: particular industry would depend on the following factor: 1. River restoration projects aim to maintain or increase ecosystem Characteristics of wastewater 2. Wastewater flow rate 3. goods and services while protecting downstream and coastal Discharge standard 4. Environmental rules and regulations 5. ecosystems. There is growing interest in applying river Operation cost of treatment. In general, treatment option may be restoration techniques to solve environmental problems, yet broadly divided into three major classes: 1. Primary Treatment little agreement exists on what constitutes a successful river (physico-chemical treatment) 2. Secondary treatment (biological restoration effort. Five criteria are proposed for measuring treatment) 3. Tertiary treatment (nutrient removal). Both physic- success, with emphasis on an ecological perspective. First, the chemical treatment followed by biological treatment is generally design of an ecological river restoration project should be based required for textile dyeing industries those are inside the DEPZ on a specified guiding image of a more dynamic, healthy river which are responsible for polluting the “Bangshi river” iv. that could exist at the site. Secondly, the river’s ecological Awareness development should include: 1. Prepare booklets and condition must be measurably improved. Thirdly, the river distribute to the industry owner for dissemination of information system must be more self-sustaining and resilient to external 2. Provide information through media 3. Provide training perturbations so that only minimal follow-up maintenance is facilities for the industry requirement. needed. Fourthly, during the construction phase, no lasting harm should be inflicted on the ecosystem. Fifthly, both pre- and post- Conclusion assessment must be completed and data made publicly available. Standards are needed because progress in the science From the above study it can be concluded that most of the and practice of river restoration has been hampered by the lack industrial pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into of agreed upon criteria for judging ecological success. Without Bangshi River. Pollutants entering the water body are both in well-accepted criteria that are ultimately supported by funding solid and liquid forms. As a result, water of Bangshi River and implementing agencies, there is little incentive for becomes highly polluted and unsuitable for domestic and practitioners to assess and report restoration outcomes. irrigation purposes. The effects of this pollution on public health Improving methods and weighing the ecological benefits of and environment are usually great in magnitude. These include various restoration approaches require organized national-level endangering of aquatic resources as well as for flora and fauna. reporting systems. The success of a restoration project could be The industrial activities of DEPZ have both environmental and evaluated in many different ways. Restore a river or stream social impact around the bank of Bangshi River. Wastewater must also be judged on whether the restoration is an ecological treatment is probably the most obvious mitigation measure and success.
International Science Congress Association 110 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 3(1), 103-111, February (2014) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. river restoration is the most management strategy which can 5. Mallick, S. River, Culture and Livelihoods: Water Pollution check the adverse environmental and social consequences. and Social Change around the River Bangshi, Bangladesh. Master’s Thesis. ISBN 978-3-656-36586-0 contributions by Acknowledgement D.J. Hand), Advising on Research Methods: A consultant's companion, 211--236, (2012) Our gratitude to Associate Professor A H M Saadat, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University for his 6. Khan et al, Environmental Pollution around Dhaka EPZ and sincere help and guidance. Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mahfuza its Impact on Surface and Groundwater, Bangladesh, Res. J. Sharifa Sultana for her ideas and support. Sci. Ind. 46(2) , 153-162, (2011) 7. DOE and Local Govt. Engineering Dept., Limited References Environmental & Social Impact Assessment And Environmental & Social Management Framework, 2,
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