Social impact assessment of water pollution : a case study on Bangshi River, Savar

Abstract

A river is an important component of environment which carries freshwater, keeps a boundless significance for harmonizing a suitable environment in this earth. But most of the river of Bangladesh especially near the cities is being polluted through discharging various wastes such as industrial wastes and household wastes without any measures and treatment into it. Bangshi River is one of them, which is being extremely polluted in the recent time. This study has been undertaken to investigate water pollution scenario and to assess the social impact of water pollution of the Bangshi River on human health, aquatic life, the society and environment. This water pollution of Bangshi River through discharging of different types of wastes such as industrial wastes, household and growth centre related wastes, chemical fertilizers, and landfill leakages has affected all fishes and most of the aquatic animals to death, disruption of foodchains, and critical diseases to human, destruction of ecosystems and environment, and sociocultural habits of the people in the area. Lack of proper management of industrial wastages release and lack of proper implementation of the policies are the main reasons of it. It can be improved the scenario of water pollution of the river by taking care about recommendations of the study which can have the positive changes to the human and aquatic life, environment and ecosystem of the river area.