<i>Saline water intrusion</i>
Photo:Tanvir Ahmed / driknews
Salt water intrusion into fresh groundwater formations generally results inadvertently from activities of man. Most large sources of fresh groundwater are in close proximity to the sea, to natural bodies of saline groundwater, or to salts from effluent wastes released by human activities. The occurrence of saline water intrusion is extensive and represents a special category of groundwater pollution. Water in the aquifer has a high concentration of salt, which currently makes it unstable for irrigation. The coastal areas of Bangladesh have already been facing salinity problem which is expected to be exacerbated by climate change and sea level rise, as sea level rise is causing unusual height of tidal water. In the dry season, when the flows of upstream water reduce drastically, the saline water goes up to 240km inside the country and reaches Magura district. Presently, around 31 upzillas of Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna, Narail, Bagerhat, and Gopalganj districts are facing severe salinity problem.
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