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Evaluation of harvested rainwater quality at primary schools of southwest coastal Bangladesh

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 191, Article number: 80 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Rainwater is a typical source of drinking water in the coastal areas of Bangladesh given the acute scarcity of drinking water. This study assessed potability of harvested rainwater of primary schools in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Water samples collected from 23 primary schools of Mongla sub-district under Bagerhat district were evaluated for indicator bacteria (total coliform (TC) and E. coli) and physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solid, Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cd). Median concentrations of TC and E. coli in the harvested rainwater samples were respectively 3000 cfu/100 ml and 6 cfu/100 ml. However, concentrations of these indicator bacteria were lower at the consumption points which received a prior treatment. Concentration of Pb exceeded the maximum allowable limit for drinking water indicated by WHO and Bangladesh drinking water guideline value in 92% and 61% of the samples respectively, and the mean concentration was 0.08 mg/l (8 times higher than the WHO guideline value). The Pb contamination possibly occurred from the painting on roof railing and roof stair room. Therefore, consumption of harvested rainwater at primary schools may cause substantial health risk for the school-going children.

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Acknowledgements

We express our sincere thanks to the DPHE zonal laboratory, Khulna for laboratory support for metal analysis. We would like to thank the school teachers of the study area who provided support during sampling.

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Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh

    Md. Atikul Islam, Md. Ali Akber & Md. Pervez Kabir

  2. Zonal Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE), Khulna, Bangladesh

    Md. Aminur Rahman

  3. Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh

    Md. Azharul Islam

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  1. Md. Atikul Islam
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  2. Md. Ali Akber
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  3. Md. Aminur Rahman
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  4. Md. Azharul Islam
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  5. Md. Pervez Kabir
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Correspondence to Md. Atikul Islam.

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Islam, M.A., Akber, M.A., Rahman, M.A. et al. Evaluation of harvested rainwater quality at primary schools of southwest coastal Bangladesh. Environ Monit Assess 191, 80 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7217-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7217-6

Keywords

  • Indicator bacteria
  • Harvested rainwater
  • Drinking water
  • Primary school
  • Coastal Bangladesh