Assessing the impact of human activities on the health condition of the Lukosi River catchment using selected physico-chemical parameters as indicators of water quality
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Date
2024-11-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Water
Abstract
The Lukosi River catchment plays a crucial role in the economic and ecological
framework of the country, serving as a major contributor to the Great Ruaha
River (GRR). This study aimed to assess the impact of human activities on the
health of the Lukosi River by analyzing key water parameters. Three sampling
sites across the catchment were selected, and water samples were collected
and analyzed using the American Public Health Association technique. A
one-sample t-test was used to measure the significance of the difference
between the measured water quality parameters and the water quality criteria
established by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the World Health
Organization (WHO). The results revealed mean values for various parameters:
pH (8.67 ± 0.57), temperature (24.803 ± 1.361°C), EC (93.30 ± 3.34 mgL−1), BOD
(14.85 ± 1.49 mgL−1), TDS (46.95 ± 1.55 mgL−1), total hardness (27.53 ± 1.28 mgL−1),
DO (3.4 ± 0.53 mgL−1), turbidity (109.83 ± 40.99 mgL−1), NO2 (79.04 ± 0.73 mgL−1),
Cu (6.07 ± 0.60 mgL−1), Ca (7.88 ± 0.36 mgL−1), Mn (0.16 ± 0.07 mgL−1), Cl
(7.58 ± 3.97 mgL−1), F (0.12 ± 0.0008 mgL−1), SO4 (20.42 ± 4.12 mgL−1), Mg
(1.92 ± 0.13 mgL−1), Zn (0.14 ± 0.11 mgL−1), Fe (3.56 ± 0.15 mgL−1), and NH3
(4.67 ± 0.51 mgL−1). Parameters such as DO, turbidity, NH3, NO3, and BOD
significantly (p = 0.05) exceeded the permissible limits set by the TBS and the
WHO. Furthermore, elements including Fe and Cu exceeded allowable limits.
Moreover, the WQI was used to indicate that the water in the catchment is
unsuitable for sustaining aquatic organisms and is unfit for domestic use.
Household questionnaires and direct observations identified key human
activities in the catchment: gardening (78.3%), agriculture (68%), livestock
keeping (50%), sand mining (21%), and brick-making (21%). Less prevalent were
car washing (7%) and fishing (4%). These findings underscore the urgent need
for conservation efforts and sustainable management practices to safeguard the
Lukosi River catchment (LRC).
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Health condition, Human activities, Lukosi River catchment, Physico-chemical parameters, Water quality index
Citation
DOI 10.3389/frwa.2024.1378849