Volume- 4
Issue- 1
Year- 2017
Eng Evans Mugera Lusigi , Duncan Onyango Mbuge , John Paul Obiero , Stephen Conrad Ondieki , Peter Kuria Ndiba
Nairobi like most cities in the world is faced with water shortages because all the surface water sources have been tapped and the ground water overexploited, yet the water demand continues to rise as the population grows. The city must therefore seek alternative means of water supply. One of the promising sources is rainwater harvesting, which has successfully been adopted to supply water in many other cities. However, there is a concern about the quality of the rainwater falling through a heavily industrialized city atmosphere and flowing over polluted grounds. There is need to determine the quality of rainwater and the resulting storm water so as to make a decision on the best application or treatment of the water. The purpose of the study was therefore to determine the physical and chemical properties of rain and storm water runoff in sub-urban and industrial settings in Nairobi. Two sites were indentified namely Upper Kabete Campus (heavily vegetated agricultural suburb), and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (heavily industrialized area of the city) to assess the water quality of rainwater received and storm water runoff exiting to drains. Water samples were collected directly from falling rain and also from runoff water at the sites for laboratory analysis. The samples were analyzed for water quality parameters namely pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, chlorides, calcium, nitrates, iron. The results from the two sites were compared statistically. It was found that the quality of rain water does not differ significantly in physiochemical parameters at 0.05 significant levels between the sub-urban and industrial setting. The falling rainwater was only slightly above the WHO requirements and required only modest treatment whole the storm water was significantly above the WHO limits and either need treatment or may be used for non potable application. Results of the study are useful in addressing challenges of water quality partly by encouraging use of rain and storm water for non portable uses and preserving the limited treated water for essential household uses.
[1] Allan, J. D. 1995. Stream ecology. Structure and function of running waters.
[2] Chennakrishnan C, Stephren A, Manju T AND Raveen R 2008: Water Quality status of three vulnerable freshwater Lakes of Suburban Chennai, India.
[3] Chutter ,F.M 1998. Research on the Rapid Biological Assessment of Water Quality Impacts in streams and rivers
[4] Athi Water Services Board. June 2011. "Sasumua Dam Commissioned"
[5] Daniel B. and A. Keller, 1998. Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet.
[6] Deborah C., 1992. Water quality assessment: A guide to the use of biota, sediment and water in environmental monitoring, First edition 585p. Dudley, N., Stolton, S. 2003. Running Pure: The importance of forest protected areas to drinking water.
[7] Duffus J H, 2002. Heavy metals" a meaningless term? (IUPAC Technical Report)," Pure and Applied Chemistry Vol. 74, pp. 793-807.
[8] EPA., 2003,"National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Agriculture."
[9] Fakayode, S. O. 2005. Impact of industrial effluents on water quality of the receiving Alaro River in Ibadan, Nigeria. Ajeam-Ragee, 10: 1-13
[10] Ganje, T. J. Selenium. 1966, Diagnostic Criteria for Plants and Soils: 394-404
[11] Gullan, P.J. and P.S Cranston,. 2010. The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, 4th Edition. Blackwell Publishing UK: 584 pp.
[12] Hangsleben, M AND D Suh. 2006. Sediment pollution.
[13] Koushik, S. and Saksena,D. 1999: Physical-chemical limnology of certain fresh water bodies of central India
[14] Jambo ,N. 2011"Water supply to Nairobi". Retrieved 6 November 2011
[15] Kaluli J.W. Wangechi, C and Home P 2009. Surface water quality in Kenya’s urban environment: Githurai Case Study
[16] Kupechella, C.E. and Hyland,M.C. 1989. Environmental Science
[17] Mafuta, C., R. Formo,K Nellemann,C and F. LI,. (EDS). 2011. Green Hills, Blue Cities: An Ecosystems Approach to Water Resources Management for African Cities. A Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, GRID Arendal
[18] Mathuthu, A.S., Mwanga, K. AND Simoro, A. 1997. Impact Assessment of Industrial and Sewage Effluents on Water Quality of the receiving Marimba River in Harare.
[19] Mumma, A. M.. Lane E., Kairu, A Tuinhof. and R. Hirji,. 2011. Water Papers: Kenya Groundwater Governance Case Study. Water Unit, Transport, Water and ICT Department
[20] Mitullah,Winnie 2003. Understanding Slums: Case Studies for the Global Report on Human Settlements 2003: The Case of Nairobi, Kenya..UN-HABITAT,.Nairobi
[21] Msafiri, P.W. 2008. Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing PES in the Water Sector: A Kenya Buyer’s Perspective. NCWSC, Nairobi
[22] NCWSC & AWSB 2009. Strategic Guidelines for Improving Water and Sanitation Services in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements. Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and Athi Water Services Board, Nairobi.
[23] Olima, wha 1997 “The Conflicts, Shortcomings and Implications of the Urban Land Management System in Kenya”Habitat International Vol 21, No 3, pp 319 – 331
[24] Phiri, O; P. Mumba,; B. H. Moyo ,Z. and . Kadewa W, 2005. Assessment of the impact of industrial effluents on water quality of receiving rivers in urban areas of Malawi. Int. J. EnvironSci Tech 2(3): 237-244
[25] Saggerson,.E.P.1991..Geology of the Nairobi Area.
[26] Robertson, A. and Davis W.. 1993. The selection and use of water quality indicators. p. 119-128.
[27] Gargi R. K., Rao R. J. and Saksena D. N. 2005. Correlation of molluscan diversity with physico-chemical characteristics of water of Ramsagar reservoir, India
[28] Stephen, F and Albert T. 2005. The Role of Groundwater in the Water-Supply of Greater Nairobi. .Retrieved 6 November 2011
[29] The streamkeeper's field guide: Watershed Inventory and Stream Monitoring Methods Revised Edition
[30] Un-habitat 2010. Solid waste management in the world’s cities: water and sanitation in the world’s cities 2010. United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Earthscan, London
[31] UON/UNEP.2005..Water Quantity and Quality Assessment Desk Study..Department. of.Chemistry,. University of Nairobi The Nairobi River Basin. Programme.Phase III UNEP,Nairobi
[32] US EPA". water.epa.gov. ( 2013)-biosolids: targeted national sewage sludge survey report - overview |
[33] US EPA 1986: Wetland Trends in Michigan since 1800: A preliminary Assessment
[34] Wells, J.C. 2008. Longman pronunciation dictionary (3rd ed. ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited/Longman. p. 313
[35] Wetzel, R. G. 1983. Limnology. (2nd Edition)
[36] Wigley T.M.L and P.D. Jones 1985. "Influences of precipitation changes and direct CO2 effects on stream flow
Department of Environmental and Biosystem Engineering University of Nairobi, P.O Box 30197, 00100, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi, Kenya
No. of Downloads: 18 | No. of Views: 844