Evaluation of Effluent Discharge from Steel Manufacturing Industries on the Proliferating Environmental Degradation in Nairobi Metropolitan in the Republic of Kenya

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to establish the effects of steel industrial effluent on Nairobi metropolitan water system and its impact to the society. The study sought to identify various types of wastes produced by factories, assess how the waste generated is managed and disposed, examine the effects of effluent discharge on Nairobi River and finally propose mitigation measures. The research adopted a qualitative design and employed a number of methods: direct observations, document reviews to content analysis of the past studies, which in the end generated invaluable data. The study revealed that there are four categories of waste generated: solid waste, liquid waste, footbath chemicals as well as thermal wastes. It was also found that waste management in place was not effective enough leading to water and soil pollution. Other causes of pollution were found out to emanate from gasses contamination to the air and chemicals used during steel processing. The findings will inform the community of the harmful effects of untreated water and how it impacts on their health and productivity. It will also help the stakeholders in the environmental conservation to articulate issues of policy and influence agenda setting in the national and sub-national levels.