Assessment of spatial variability of water quality parameters at the headwaters of Pangani River in the Arumeru sub-catchment.
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Date
2001
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Some people living in rural areas in Tanzania use water taken directly from rivers for domestic purposes. Depending on the location, some people naturally get clean and safe water but others find themselves being surrounded by polluted waters with natural or artificial pollution agents. Water samples were taken from rivers in Arumeru sub-catchment and its quality analysed for physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. While other parameters were in tolerable concentrations, the highest value of the observed fluoride concentration was 21 mg/L while the average value was 2.75 mg/L both being higher than the WHO guideline value of 1.5 mg/L. Regression analysis was made in order to assess the correlation of fluoride with other parameters, electric conductivity and total alkalinity with R2 values of 0.6, and 0.7 mg/L respectively showed to have some dependency on fluoride concentrations. The value of R2 = 0.1 mg Pt/L for colour shows no correlation between fluoride and colour hence disassociating the colour of Maji ya Chai river (tea coloured water which was previously assumed to be caused by high fluoride concentrations in the river) with fluoride concentrations. The water quality distribution plots have shown that most of the salts and pollutants are highly concentrated in rivers on the eastern side of the catchment hence posing a big threat to the residents of that area.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF TD467.T34M23)
Keywords
Water quality, Measurement, Water quality management, Pangani River, Arumeru, Sub-catchment, Tanzania
Citation
Mbanzendole, D. N. (2001). Assessment of spatial variability of water quality parameters at the headwaters of Pangani River in the Arumeru sub-catchment. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.