Assessment of Water Quality from Sections of River Chania Adjacent to Leather Industries of Kenya Limited, Kiambu County, Kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Onyango, Sarah Shiriebo | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-13T12:22:59Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-13T12:22:59Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-11 | |
| dc.description | A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Analytical Chemistry) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2025 Supervisors: 1.Mildred P. Nawiri 2.Alphonse Wanyonyi | |
| dc.description.abstract | River Chania in Kiambu County, Kenya serves as one of the vital water sources for domestic, industrial and agricultural use, and supports aquatic life. A section of the river flows adjacent to the Leather Industries of Kenya Limited (LIK), which is involved in leather tanning processes, hence this river is prone to pollution from LIK. Water pollution from industrial effluents, agrichemicals, and residential waste remains a global challenge to safe and clean water. According to WHO, various physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), total phenols and heavy metals are used to assess water quality? The study aimed to assess the water quality of river Chania in proximity of LIK. Water samples were collected during the long rains and short rains seasons from the upstream, midstream and downstream sections of the river. The physico-chemical parameters were analyzed using methods developed by the American Public Health Association (APHA), heavy metals were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), while total phenols were analysed via UV-Vis Spectroscopy. Data was analyzed using R software with One-way ANOVA applied to determine significant differences in parameters across the sampling points in long rains and short rains seasons. Results showed that levels of PH (6.98-7.11), EC (133-250 µS/cm) and COD (20.7-43.7 mg/l) in short rains and pH (6.68-6.76), EC (109-195 µS/cm) and COD (16.8-32.4 mg/L) in long rains seasons, were within WHO acceptable limits, while TSS levels (170-1841 mg/L) and BOD levels (10.50-15.40 mg/L) midstream exceeded the WHO limits in both seasons. Additionally, the concentration of Cr (0.119- 0.191 mg/L), Pb (0.016- 0.025 mg/L) and total phenols (0.038-0.143 mg/L) during the long rains season and Cr (0.103- 0.160 mg/L), Pb (0.013-0.02 mg/L) and total phenols (0.007-0.116 mg/L) in short rains season exceeded the WHO limits except Cd (0.003-0.004 mg/L) in long rains and Cd (0.002-0.003 mg/L) in short rains season. Significant variations in the water quality parameters were observed across the river sections, with the highest levels at midstream during both seasons (p<0.05). These findings suggest contamination of the river by industrial effluents, agricultural run offs, domestic and sewage wastes, highlighting the need for strict regulatory waste discharge measures, community engagement, and the adoption of technological solutions to mitigate pollution and safeguard water quality | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32741 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Assessment of Water Quality from Sections of River Chania Adjacent to Leather Industries of Kenya Limited, Kiambu County, Kenya | |
| dc.type | Thesis |