Impacts of anthropogenic activities on water quality in Ruvu catchment

Water is a very important resource, it sustain life and improve economic development. Water resources in Tanzania are diminishing in terms of quality and quantity due to rapid population growth that requires land and water in order to sustain life. The main objective of this study was to investigate/assess different anthropogenic activities conducted in Ruvu catchment and their impacts to water resources management in terms of availability of water supply and quality. Specifically, the study intended to identify different anthropogenic activities conducted within Ruvu catchment, isolate activities having impacts to water availability and quality within the study area, and establish trends of water flows and water quality in the study area for the past years. The study revealed that, anthropogenic activities undertaken in the study area include agriculture, overgrazing, industrial activities, domestic water abstraction, wastewater discharges, settlements, beekeeping and fishing. Among others, overgrazing and agriculture have been found to impact water quality and flows in Ruvu catchment. Water flows trend at Morogoro Road Bridge was found to drop by 30% in 2016 compared to that of 1980. The water quality results from 13 parameters analyzed in ten years, trend for 6 parameters were found to be increasing and above the TBS set limits. These parameters are total coliform, fecal coliform, colour, DO, BOD and turbidity which are associated with anthropogenic activities. It is important to rescue the situation through catchment demarcation, follow-up on water and discharge permits as well as compliances, harmonization of development activities, development of functional land use planning and enforcement of available legislations and by-laws on environmental and water resources management.