Evaluation and assessment of water quality in Likangala River and its catchment area
► We assessed water quality of Likangala river and its major tributaries. ► We examined the effects of natural and anthropogenic activities on river water. ► Water and soil samples were collected and tested for major parameters. ► The river is fairly polluted, significant in the urban area, near and...
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| Published in: | Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C Vol. 36; no. 14-15; pp. 865 - 871 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ltd
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | ► We assessed water quality of Likangala river and its major tributaries. ► We examined the effects of natural and anthropogenic activities on river water. ► Water and soil samples were collected and tested for major parameters. ► The river is fairly polluted, significant in the urban area, near and in the lake. ► Integrated control and management of water and land needed to reduce the effects.
Likangala is one of the perennial rivers in Malawi that flow into a closed Lake Chilwa, a designated wetland ratified by Ramsar Convention in 1997. Earlier work conducted on this river revealed considerable social-economic activities at riverbanks resulting in indiscriminate disposal of wastes. This study intended to evaluate water quality in Likangala River and its catchment area. Water samples were collected thrice (dry, early rainy and mid rainy seasons) and tested for major physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. The EC, pH, and selected ions (NO3-, PO43-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) were analysed in soil samples obtained in crop fields along the river banks. Elevated EC levels (>1035.00μS/cm) were measured during mid rainy season at site S15 (Zomba Sewage Works), near and in the lake. Most of the water samples (86%, n=28) registered phosphate levels above 1.50mg/L during mid rainy season with a maximum value (10.70±0.01mg/L) at site S15. Lower amounts (<0.05mg/L) of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ were measured at few sites, while Cu2+ and Ni2+ were all below detection limits. The water was classified as soft (0–75mg/L CaCO3) to moderately hard (75–150mg/L CaCO3). The total and fecal coliform counts above the World Health Organisation (2008) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (2005) limits (0cfu/100ml) at some sites signified that the water is unsuitable for human consumption without treatment. The study showed that the river is fairly polluted, the effects being significant in the urban area, near and in the lake. This calls for awareness campaigns aiming at behavioural change and integrated control of water, land use and waste management in order to prevent escalation of the effects. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1474-7065 1873-5193 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.pce.2011.07.070 |