Changes in Water Quality Parameters along Thika River Sub-Catchment, Upper Tana, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Odero, Joanes Ooko
Makokha, George Lukoye
Mati, Bancy
Okoth, Nathan Oduor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JARWW
Abstract
Surface water pollution is a challenge due to effluent discharge from land-based
factors like agro-based sectors, settlements, and poor sanitation. The research
investigated the spatial and seasonal variation of physico-chemical and biological
water quality due to land use changes along the Thika River sub-catchment, Upper
Tana, Kenya. The study applied purposive sampling technique from the different
zones within the catchment during the dry and wet season of 2021. The samples
were tested for physico-chemical and microbial contaminants. R-studio was used
to calculate the mean values and t-test performed at a 95% confidence interval to
determine variation of the parameters in the two seasons and mean levels
compared to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) 2010 and the World Health
Organization (WHO) acceptable quality for drinking water. There was significant
variation in sulphate and nitrate concentration, total coliform and fecal coliform and
no significant variations in physical parameters throughout the seasons. The total
coliform and fecal coliform exceeded KEBS and WHO limits.
Description
Article
Keywords
Seasonal and spatial variation, Quality parameters, Thika river catchment, Upper Tana, Kenya Bureau of Standards
Citation
Odero, J. O., Makokha, G. L., Mati, B., & Okoth, N. O. (2023). Changes in water quality parameters along Thika river sub-catchment, Upper Tana, Kenya. Journal of Applied Research in Water and Wastewater.