THE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS ON GROUNDWATER FLOW AND SOLUTE TRANSPORT OF SUTRA 2D3D.1

Arsenic groundwater pollution in Bangladesh has been known as possibly the largest mass poisoning of human population in history. Based on drinking water quality of 50 μg As/L, 25 million people in Bangladesh are affected. If the range from 10–50 μg As/L, with 10 μg As/L is used as World Health Organization (WHO) current standard, another 25 million people will be affected. The latest research findings have demonstrated that the availability of organic matter in the presence of indigenous bacteria in aquifer critically implicated in the release of arsenic from sediments. A number of software is available for conducting modelling on solute transport of dissolved organic carbon from surface to subsurface. In this study, SUTRA 2D3D.1 has selected to model at Manikganj district in Bangladesh. This study focussed on sensitivity analysis as a primary concern, before any further modelling effort. The results of simulation found that the input parameters can be divided into those with either positive or negative linear relation with the time taken for surface-derived solutes to be transported to typical depths of groundwater abstraction. The completion of sensitivity analysis has created an opportunity of further development in developing minimum and maximum scenarios by considering the shallow and deep tubewells abstraction.