Impact of Human Activities on Water Quality in River Kibos-Nyamasaria, Kisumu County: An Inlet River to Lake Victoria in Winam Gulf, Kenya.

Abstract

Human activities, Industrial, and poor agricultural practices have resulted to the contamination of rivers and lakes all over the world. Many rivers and streams in Kenya lose water quality after passing through towns and cities which causes health risks. This study used ten sampling points to determine physicochemical parameters in water and sediments from river Kibos-Nyamasaria. A pH meter was used to measure water and soil sediment pH, a inolab conductivity meter was used to measure water and soil sediment conductivity; a muffle furnace was used to measure the soil's sediment organic carbon and organic matter; a hot air oven was used to measure soil sediment moisture. Microsoft Excel was used for the data analysis. In the water sample, pH ranged from 6.93±0.06 to 7.90±0.02 while turbidity ranges from 84.23±0.41 NTU (dry season) to 188.50±1.08 NTU (wet season). During the rainy season, conductivity ranged from 106.93±0.25 μs/cm to 139.26±0.86 μs/cm, and total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 101.23±1.15 mg/L to 120.10±0.45 mg/L while total suspended solids (TSS) ranged from 65.40±0.80 mg/L to 123.73±0.60 mg/L. In soil sediment, pH ranged from 6.20±0.05 to 7.26±0.06, conductivity ranged from 44.43±0.31 to 142.23±0.35 μs/cm, sediment moisture ranged from 13.14±0.03 to 26.34±0.03%, organic matter ranged from 2.95±0.06 to 9.43±0.11%, organic carbon ranged from 1.71±0.04 to 5.47±0.07% respectively in both seasons. Increase in the concentrations of physicochemical parameters downstream indicates increased pollution to Lake Victoria. It is necessary to establish measures to reduce pollution and find potential sources of the pollutants.

Keywords: Physicochemical parameters, water, sediment, river Kibos-Nyamasaria, Lake Victoria.