Affiliations: University of Sydney, School of Civil Engineering,
Sydney NSW 2006, Australia | Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University
of Engineering and Technology Dhaka - 1000, Bangladesh | Faculty of Regional Development Studies, Toyo
University, 1-1-1 Izumino Itakuramachi, Gumma 374-0193, Japan
Abstract: High iron concentration in the groundwater of Bangladesh was
observed long ago. Existence of high arsenic concentration was observed in
early 1990s. Determining iron concentration is cheaper and some indigenous
methods are applied locally for such a purpose. Determining concentration of
arsenic is more expensive and a relatively new issue even though the
measurement is very important from monitoring point. The correlation between
these two will ensure the possibility of simple and cheaper option for
monitoring arsenic concentration from that of the iron concentration. This made
the correlation analysis between arsenic and iron concentration of ground water
more rational. In this study, data of 4367 wells were categorized for analysis
as per geographic location in 61 administrative districts of Bangladesh.
Results were compared with the results of analysis performed without
categorizing data as per geographic locations. It is evident from the study
that correlation between arsenic and iron concentration of ground water is not
constant nationwide, rather it is a zonal phenomenon. Geographic Information
Sustem (GIS) maps were produced with the correlation analysis data which
represents the correlation status of each individual district of Bangladesh.
Outcome of this study reveals that a zone or belt of a region can be observed
within a band of similar correlation coefficient. From the analysis and
produced GIS (Geographic Information System) maps it was observed that 50.4%
districts of Bangladesh showed correlation coefficient in excess of 0.4 and 37%
districts show correlation coefficient in excess of 0.5. In the eastern part of
Bangladesh a belt of very low correlation was observed. The produced GIS maps
and the study results enable to predict tentatively or statistically the
arsenic concentration of a well by only knowing the iron concentration of the
same well. This will help in reducing the need and thus cost for frequent
measurement of arsenic in many areas where high correlation of the two is
observed and reported.
