| dc.description.abstract | Rapid and largely unplanned urbanisation has resulted in severe pressure on surface
water bodies in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Hatirjheel Lake, situated in the heart of the city,
is simultaneously a flood-retention basin, a hydraulic conveyance link, and a major
recreational space. This paper presents a detailed yet compact physicochemical
assessment based on primary data for three surface-water sampling locations in
Hatirjheel, collected in September (the late monsoon/post-monsoon period). The lake
water was analysed for pH , temperature, biochemical oxygen demand ( BOD_5 ),
chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity
(EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total hardness, following Standard Methods for
the Examination of Water and Wastewater. In addition, pH data were available for six
samples collected in September 2025 and October 2025, allowing a limited two
season comparison.
Urban lakes in rapidly growing megacities are often under severe pressure from
untreated wastewater, storm runoff and intense human use. Hatirjheel Lake, located in
the centre of Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a key element of the city’s drainage and
recreation system but has been repeatedly reported as degraded in terms of water
quality. In this study, surface water samples were collected from three locations in
Hatirjheel during September, and pH data from a previous February survey were also
considered. Physico–chemical parameters including pH, temperature, biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO),
electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and hardness were analysed
following standard methods. The results show that pH (7.5–8.0) remained within the
permissible range of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules (ECR’97),
while EC, TDS and hardness were moderate. However, BOD and COD substantially
exceeded national guideline values, and DO at some points dropped below the
recommended minimum, indicating organic pollution and potential stress on aquatic
biota. The findings are consistent with earlier studies that highlighted the impact of
combined sewer overflows and urban runoff on Hatirjheel water quality. The paper
concludes with recommendations for improved sewer management, regular
monitoring and integration of water quality considerations into future lake
management plans. | en_US |
