Impact assessment of anthropogenic activities on water environment of Tillai River and its surroundings, Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Abstract This study has carried out to ascertain the anthropogenic impacts on water bodies of Tillai River and the surrounding area of Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant (BTPP). The present study has conducted based on the 28 collected water samples. The chemical analysis, cluster analysis, and water evaluation indices such as Water Quality Index (WQI), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), and Degree of Contamination (CD) have applied to determine the water quality as important factors for irrigation and other uses. The chemical analysis results reveal that for irrigation purpose; pH, Calcium, and Lead (Pb) are lower than the standard value. For domestic purpose, pH has lower value than the standard value. However, Cl, Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Cr have been found higher than the standard value for irrigational use. Whereas, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Pb have been found higher than the standard value for domestic purpose. The cluster analysis reveals that the polluted water samples exist closed to the power plant area. Based on the WQI analysis, about 50% of samples are poor to unsuitable to use. Moreover, the results of pollution indices as HPI, HEI, and Cd have values of 42.86%, 39.29%, and 53.57% of water samples and have revealed moderate to highly polluted. The Tillai River samples (W3, W4, W5, and W6) are slightly polluted adjacent to the BTPP. The impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on the water environments is reasonably evident from ionic and heave metal assemblages and their indices. At the end, the results of this study will be useful to identify the level of pollution in Tillai River and around the BTPP to take necessary measures to mitigate the pollution related problem around the study area.