Water quality and resident perceptions of declining ecosystem services at Shitalakka wetland in Narayanganj city

Abstract

Wetland ecosystem services provide social benefits. These services are vulnerable due to human activities. The present research concerns perceptions of declining wetland ecosystem services and their effects on water quality parameters. The percentages of provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services were found to overshadow ecosystem services, such that generation of goods and values in the studied wetlands are in jeopardy. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), turbidity, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), heavy metals and salts were measured as indicators of water quality. Many significant correlations were observed and many of these parameters exceeded regulatory limits. Lead (Pb) in wetland 0.09 mg/L far exceeded the safe limit (0.01–0.05 mg/L), while turbidity in wetland 21.12 was too high to sustain fish. Wetland water pH was significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with Cd. TDS was found to have a significant (p ≤ 0.01; p ≤ 0.05; p ≤ 0.1) correlation with conductivity, Ca²⁺, BOD, and DO. The conductivity increased (p ≤ 0.01) with increasing Ca²⁺ concentrations. COD was significantly different (p ≤ 0.1) with Pb, Cd and Cl⁻. BOD increased with increasing Ca²⁺ concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Continuous monitoring of water quality indicators (turbidity, EC, pH, DO, TDS, COD, BOD, cations, and anions) is crucial for improving of wetland ecosystem services and sustainability of communities.