Assessment of Surface Water Quality in Upper Awash River Basin

Nugusu, Shaka (2015) Assessment of Surface Water Quality in Upper Awash River Basin. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

The present study focuses on the analysis of physicochemical and biological water quality parameters: electrical conductivity, nitrate, phosphate, COD, BOD, DO, turbidity , total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, trace elements and biological parameters like E- Coli and total coliform in the upper Awash River basin. Awash River is in a great environmental concern because most of its tributaries streaming from the different catchment area of the basin contain several pollutants. The main threat to the surface water quality in upper Awash River basin is environmental pollution derived from domestic, Industrial and Agricultural activities. Due to inadequacy of controlled waste management strategies and waste treatment plants, people are forced to discharge wastes both on open surface and within water bodies. Improper waste disposal has deteriorated the quality of Awash River by changing the physical, chemical and biological properties of river water. Twelve samples of river water from different selected points during dry and wet season were collected and taken to Addis Ababa Environmental protection laboratory and Oromia water quality laboratory for identification of surface water quality status. physicochemical and bacteriological analysis of the samples during the dry and wet season along the streams show that the level of unwanted chemical and biological constituents are higher than the maximum permissible limit of Ethiopian and WHO standards. Therefore, this study aims to assess the quality of Upper Awash River Basin surface water quality based on physicochemical and bacteriological parameters and figure out if there are environmental and health risk associated with the use of these water sources. The result indicated that the range of BOD (7.6-216mg/l), Ammonia (0.12- 44.8mg/l), phosphate (0.28- 9.64mg/l), turbidity (104- 5100mg/l) and alkalinity (40- 438mg/l). Total coliform and E-Coli present in the samples were at levels indicative of fecal pollution. It also exceeded all the guidelines for human use whether for personal contact, drinking, washing and cooking. Therefore this indicates that there is a serious health risk from the use of these water sources. The lack of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plant of the towns in the basin has caused the Awash River to suffer from a serious pollution.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
T Technology > T Technology (General)
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
T Technology > TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Andriamparany Edilbert RANOARIVONY
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2018 09:54
Last Modified: 22 Nov 2018 09:54
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7709

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