Water samples for physico-chemical, heavy metals and bacteriological analyses were collected from 4 selected points along Mitheu Stream flowing through Machakos Municipality once every month from June 2019 to September 2019. The samples were analyzed in Kenya Plant and Health Inspectorate Service and Water Resources Authority laboratories then data subjected to one-way analysis of variance to test significant differences (P≤0.05). The results were compared with World Health Organization guidelines to assess the suitability of the water for irrigation use. Results showed that the levels of the Biological Oxygen Demand and the Chemical Oxygen Demand in Mitheu Stream were higher than critical values permitted by the World Health Organization for irrigation water. Nitrates and Sulphates were within critical limits; however, Phosphates were higher than permissible limits at all the sampling points. Heavy metals concentrations for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr were within allowable limits for irrigation water, but Cd was above the limit. Both total coliforms and Escherichia coli counts exceeded allowable limits for irrigation water. As such, Mitheu Stream can be considered polluted and the water unfit for irrigation farming. The Municipal authorities, working with other relevant stakeholders should take appropriate measures to mitigate stream pollution from untreated effluent discharged into the stream.
Information on reservoirs is important as it forms a vital baseline for among others the detection of undesirable changes in water quality. Variations in the physicochemical characteristics of water were investigated in five peri-urban reservoirs Uhuru reservoir located in Nairobi City County and Ruiru, Ngewa, Comte and Kianjjibbe in Kiambu County between February 2014 and January 2015. The aim of the study was to establish the quality of water. Mean Secchi depth recorded in cm was 0.7 ± 0.9 in Comte and Kianjjibbe reservoir respectively. Total phosphorus in µg L -1 in the reservoirs was 0.8 ± 0.14 in Uhuru, 1.0 ± 0.02 in Ruiru, 1.0 ± 0.77 in Ngewa, 1.0 ± 0.82 in Comte and 2.7 ± 0.25 in Kianjjibbe. Soluble reactive silica in mgL -1 was 3.4 ± 0.47 in Uhuru, 4.0 ± 0.64 in Ruiru, 7.3 ± 0.7 in Ngewa, 5.9 ± 0.15 in Comte and 7.0 ± 199 in Kianjjibe. Peak values of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were recorded during the wet season while high soluble reactive silica was recorded during the dry season. There was a significant difference in all measured physcio-chemical parameters between the reservoirs (p<0.001, df=59). The study concludes that the reservoirs investigated varied in levels of physico-chemical properties. The variation was attributed to differences in rainfall, volume of outflow and use dynamics of the water of the reservoir.
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