The global target to minimise the disposal of hazardous substances and maintain healthy river systems, as articulated in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.3, require interventions that manage the political, economic and social trade-offs in reversing environmental degradation, supporting economic growth and reducing population exposure to pollution (UN General Assembly 2015). Weak enforcement of environmental regulations on polluting industries, coupled with the inability of municipalities to extend basic housing, water and sanitation services to growing urban populations, have led to severe degradation of water resources-stretching from the Citarum (West Java province, Indonesia) (Fulazzaky 2010) and Dong Nai rivers (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam) (Nguyen et al 2019) in Southeast Asia to the Buriganga (Dhaka, Bangladesh) (Kamal et al 1999, Whitehead et al 2019) and the Yamuna rivers (New Delhi, India) (Mandal et al 2010) in South Asia. While high income countries in Europe and North America today treat 70% of their wastewater before discharge, urban river pollution remains a major challenge in low- and lower-middle income countries in Asia, where only 8% and 28% of the wastewater is treated (UNEP 2016, WWDR 2017, Kookana et al 2020). River pollution through discharge of untreated wastewater has plagued developing economies since the dawn of the industrial revolution (Parker 1932, Hostetter 2006). Recognising the social inequalities in risk can support the sequencing of policy action involving short-term adaptation (improved services, education, advocacy) and long-term mitigation (effluent treatment, regulation and enforcement) responses.
Swimming peaked among men and children in the monsoon, risking exposure to pathogen pollution. Pollution exposure through domestic activities prevailed throughout the year, particularly for women and girls along low-income settlements lacking adequate water and sanitation facilities. We found very high ammonia and almost zero dissolved oxygen during the low flow season, further exacerbated by heavy metals from the annual Bishwa Ijtema gathering and downstream industrial zones. To understand the socio-spatial and seasonal inequalities in pollution risks, we designed a direct observation method to record people's daily river use activities across dry and wet seasons, complemented by monthly monitoring of river water quality, heavy metal and biotoxicity assessment a large-scale household survey along a 25km stretch of the Turag River and Tongi Khal in Dhaka, Bangladesh. River pollution through the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluent is a perverse outcome of rapid urbanisation and economic growth across Asia.
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