Hydrological Systems in the Greater Virunga Landscape: Water Quality around Mikeno Sector

Abstract

Monitoring of environmental parameters is one of the highest priorities in the evaluation of environmental status of water resources and in environmental protection policy. The main objectives are to understand and evaluate the water quantity and quality in order to provide water of appropriate quality to various water users. The water quantity was assessed by the measurement of runoff or discharge at specific river cross sections using floating method for surface water and bucket and stopwatch method for springs and boreholes. The quality of river water and spring was identified in terms of its physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The analyzed data were compared with standard values recommended by WHO. Macroinvertebrates were collected in the rivers using a plankton nets and 10 minutes of sampling. Identification was made at the laboratory of Malacology. Results revealed that the quality of water obtained from sampling points is generally good to use for different domestic purposes except the Idanta River and Rwembwe borehole, which need an appropriate treatment before use. All sampling points are located far from houses and latrines, which can contribute to fecal contamination. On the different sampling points, bathing and washing clothes were observed and could constitute the source of pollution of drinking water. In Idanta and Kamira Rivers animals used water for drinking while also people use this water for domestic and drinking. In the two sampling points high values of Escherichia coli * Corresponding author. K. Karume et al. 383 were found. No pollutant-taxa tolerant were found in the two monitored rivers for macroinvertebrates. Since water quality and quantity remain a major challenge in rural areas, the government should provide safe water to the population around Mikeno sector after treatment using suitable techniques.

A Seasonal Change in Physicochemical, Bacteriological Parameters and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Structure and Composition in Mikeno Sector, Eastern DRC

“…Macroinvertebrate collected in different rivers in the Mikeno sector during the year 2015 and 2016 in the rainy and dry seasons are presented in table 4. The specific richness is low compared to other studies in the tropical region (Bagalwa et al, 2013) but it is comparable with the results in the Great region (Karume et al, 2016). This low specific richness was due to the bad conditions of sampling in rain time when water flow was high and difficult for sampling at the riverbank.…”

“…DO is higher than 6 mg/L except in the sampling site of Indata River (4.7 mg/L). The highest values recorded in the sampling sites were also reported byKarume et al, (2016) in the Greater Virunga Landscape. The high velocity and low temperature (> 22 o C) are the reasons why the DO is high in the sites.…”

“…The assessment was carried out, in landscape. The assessments were restricted to water points considered during the previous hydrological study in the Virunga massif (Karume et al, 2016). These include Kabaya source, Kabaya River, Rwankwi River, Indata River,…”

Water Quality in and around Lake Edward Basin of the Greater Virunga Landscape, D. R. Congo Side

“…The highest temperature in the watershed was recorded at Vitshumbi fountain (28.6˚C) and the lowest was recorded at Muwe River (19.2˚C). This temperature is higher than the temperature recorded in Mikeno sector (16˚C to 20˚C) by Karume et al, [39]. Temperature is an important water factor because the rate of chemical reactions increases at higher temperatures, which in turn affects biological activities and growth of aquatic organisms [40].…”

Variation in species assemblages due to micro-topography and flow regime govern vegetation carbon stock in seasonal floodplain wetlands

“…Cross-sectional area in each of the sampling station was calculated by multiplying the corresponding depth and width values of the respective sampling stations (Karume et al 2016). All the micro-topographic and flow parameters were measured several times (n = 5) in each sampling stations during each flood phase.…”