scholarly journals A Critical Analysis of the Water Quality Impacts on Water Resources in the Athi River Drainage Basin, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shadrack M. Kithiia
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Quality Degradation ◽  
Water Uses

This paper presents a critical analysis of the water quality changes and their impacts on water resources within the Athi River Catchment and its implications of the people’s livelihoods. The paper analyses the effects of land use activities on water quality in the headwater areas of the basin which has a profound impacts on the downstream water uses within the basin. The paper in addition makes an attempt to relate the impacts of human activities on water quality degradation trends within the basin against the available and potential water resources in the basin. The Athi River is the second largest in Kenya and traverses areas of diverse land use activities from the more agricultural head water areas through the industrial hub of Kenya in Nairobi to the Indian Ocean discharging its waters near Malindi town north of Mombasa. The paper gives a detailed analysis of the impacts of human activities on the water resources in regard to water quality degradation, pollution and mitigation measures. The study was based on field data collection and measurements and laboratory analysis. The researcher used 10 sampling points located within the Nairobi sub-basin and distributed along the river profile to examine the trends in water quality degradation and its implication on human livelihoods in the basin. The researcher noted a declining trend in water quality status downstream the river profile. A close analysis of the water situation in the basin paints a blink future on the available water resources in the basin against the projected water uses and increasing population compounded by the impacts of water pollution and climate change. This is likely to increase incidences of water shortage and food insecurity in many parts of the basin. The researcher recommends more investments in water harvesting infrastructure, environmental conservation and adoption of modern water management technologies.

scholarly journals How Climate Change and Land Use/Land Cover Change Affect Domestic Water Vulnerability in Yangambi Watersheds (D. R. Congo)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
David Ushindi Chishugi ◽  
Denis Jean Sonwa ◽  
Jean-Marie Kahindo ◽  
Destin Itunda ◽  
Josué Bahati Chishugi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Land Use Land Cover ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Dense Forest ◽  
Water Vulnerability

In the tropics, the domestic water supply depends principally on ecosystem services, including the regulation and purification of water by humid, dense tropical forests. The Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (YBR) landscape is situated within such forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Surprisingly, given its proximity to the Congo River, the YBR is confronted with water issues. As part of its ecosystem function, the landscape is expected to reduce deterioration of water quality. However, environmental consequences are increasing due to conversion of its dense forest into other types of land use/land cover (LULC) in response to human activities. It is therefore important to check how the physicochemical quality parameters of water resources are influenced by landscape parameters—and to know if the population can adapt to this water vulnerability. To do this, we analyzed the watershed typology (including morphometric and LULC characteristics) and the physical and chemical parameters of water within the principal watershed’s rivers. We also analyzed data from surveys and the Yangambi meteorological station. We found that some landscape indices related to LULC significantly influence water quality deterioration in Yangambi. On average, each person in the Yangambi landscape uses 29–43 liters of water per day. Unfortunately, this falls short of World Health Organization standards regarding some parameters. The best fitted simple linear regression model explains the variation in pH as a function of edge density of perturbed forest, edge density of crop land and patch density of dense forest up to 94%, 92% and 90%, respectively. While many researchers have identified the consequences of climate change and human activities on these water resources, the population is not well-equipped to deal with them. These results suggest that water management policies should consider the specificities of the Yangambi landscape in order to develop better mitigation strategies for a rational management of water resources in the YBR in the context of climate change.

scholarly journals Environmental Characteristics and Water Quality of a Drainage Basin Impacted by Human Activities

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 373
Author(s):  
Josiani C. Oliveira ◽  
Vitor R. Becegato ◽  
Indianara F. Barcarolli ◽  
Alexandre Tadeu Paulino ◽  
Valter A. Becegato
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Drainage Basins ◽  
Environmental Characteristics ◽  
International Regulations

The aim of the present study was to determine the environmental characteristics and water quality of a drainage basin impacted by human activities in order to obtain quantitative information for helping the development of environmental management politics of soils, lakes, rivers and water resources. Physicochemical properties and concentrations of metals were determined in different water samples. Dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, color, ammonia, phosphorus, phenol, copper, silver, lead, cadmium and iron differed from levels considered acceptable by international regulations, indicating potential environmental pollution due to land occupation and the improper disposal of domestic, industrial and agricultural waste. The leaching of pollutants from the soil to bodies of water was also found. Total dissolved solids, salinity, suspended solids, nitrate, nitrite and zinc levels were lower than the limits imposed by international regulations, but have been increasing over time. Urbanization, industrialization and agricultural processes in drainage basins significantly affect the natural characteristics of the environment, leading to an increase in the concentrations of pollutants and a reduction in the quality of water, plants and soils. As pollutants in drainage basins generally enter into soils, rivers, lakes and ocean, it is necessary to obtain quantitative information about the human impacts in the water quality for developing environmental management politics aiming to preserve the water resources. 

scholarly journals A Review of SWAT Model Application in Africa

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1313
Author(s):  
George Akoko ◽  
Tu Hoang Le ◽  
Takashi Gomi ◽  
Tasuku Kato
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Model Parameterization ◽  
Basin Scale

The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) is a well-known hydrological modeling tool that has been applied in various hydrologic and environmental simulations. A total of 206 studies over a 15-year period (2005–2019) were identified from various peer-reviewed scientific journals listed on the SWAT website database, which is supported by the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD). These studies were categorized into five areas, namely applications considering: water resources and streamflow, erosion and sedimentation, land-use management and agricultural-related contexts, climate-change contexts, and model parameterization and dataset inputs. Water resources studies were applied to understand hydrological processes and responses in various river basins. Land-use and agriculture-related context studies mainly analyzed impacts and mitigation measures on the environment and provided insights into better environmental management. Erosion and sedimentation studies using the SWAT model were done to quantify sediment yield and evaluate soil conservation measures. Climate-change context studies mainly demonstrated streamflow sensitivity to weather changes. The model parameterization studies highlighted parameter selection in streamflow analysis, model improvements, and basin scale calibrations. Dataset inputs mainly compared simulations with rain-gauge and global rainfall data sources. The challenges and advantages of the SWAT model’s applications, which range from data availability and prediction uncertainties to the model’s capability in various applications, are highlighted. Discussions on considerations for future simulations such as data sharing, and potential for better future analysis are also highlighted. Increased efforts in local data availability and a multidimensional approach in future simulations are recommended.

scholarly journals A cost-effectiveness analysis of water security and water quality: impacts of climate and land-use change on the River Thames system

2013 ◽  
Vol 371 (2002) ◽  
pp. 20120413 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Whitehead ◽  
J. Crossman ◽  
B. B. Balana ◽  
M. N. Futter ◽  
S. Comber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
River Thames

The catchment of the River Thames, the principal river system in southern England, provides the main water supply for London but is highly vulnerable to changes in climate, land use and population. The river is eutrophic with significant algal blooms with phosphorus assumed to be the primary chemical indicator of ecosystem health. In the Thames Basin, phosphorus is available from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and from diffuse sources such as agriculture. In order to predict vulnerability to future change, the integrated catchments model for phosphorus (INCA-P) has been applied to the river basin and used to assess the cost-effectiveness of a range of mitigation and adaptation strategies. It is shown that scenarios of future climate and land-use change will exacerbate the water quality problems, but a range of mitigation measures can improve the situation. A cost-effectiveness study has been undertaken to compare the economic benefits of each mitigation measure and to assess the phosphorus reductions achieved. The most effective strategy is to reduce fertilizer use by 20% together with the treatment of effluent to a high standard. Such measures will reduce the instream phosphorus concentrations to close to the EU Water Framework Directive target for the Thames.

scholarly journals Landscape structure in the Pirapó, Paranapanema 3 and 4 Hydrographic Unit, in the state of Paraná, Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (4 suppl 2) ◽  
pp. 107-119
Author(s):  
M. T. Nóbrega ◽  
E. Serra ◽  
H. Silveira ◽  
P. M. B. Terassi ◽  
C. M. Bonifácio
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
The State ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Drainage Basins ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Over Time

The aim of this study is to characterize the Pirapó, Paranapanema 3 and 4 Hydrographic Unit, emphasizing its physical attributes and processes of use and occupation, responsible for the structure of the current landscape and the state of its water resources. The recognition of the landscape’s spatial structure in the hydrographic unit and its drainage basins was obtained by integrated analysis of the main elements that compose it: geology, landforms (hypsometric and slope), soils, climate and land use. Analysis revealed that within each drainage basin several variations in the spatial structure of the landscape occur which produce an internal compartmentalization. Each compartment is defined by its own geo-ecological structure, physiognomic standards and dynamics, reflected in its potentialities and vulnerabilities and in the conditions of water resources in the wake of occupation and use over time.

scholarly journals Land Use and Water Quality

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2412
Author(s):  
Brian Kronvang ◽  
Frank Wendland ◽  
Karel Kovar ◽  
Dico Fraters
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Pollution Source ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Nitrogen Surplus ◽  
Nutrient Sources ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Sources Of Pollution

The interaction between land use and water quality is of great importance worldwide as agriculture has been proven to exert a huge pressure on the quality of groundwater and surface waters due to excess losses of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) through leaching and erosion processes. These losses result in, inter alia, high nitrate concentrations in groundwater and eutrophication of rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Combatting especially non-point losses of nutrients has been a hot topic for river basin managers worldwide, and new important mitigation measures to reduce the input of nutrients into groundwater and surface waters at the pollution source have been developed and implemented in many countries. This Special Issue of the Land use and Water Quality conference series (LuWQ) includes a total of 11 papers covering topics such as: (i) nitrogen surplus; (ii) protection of groundwater from pollution; (iii) nutrient sources of pollution and dynamics in catchments and (iv) new technologies for monitoring, mapping and analysing water quality.

scholarly journals Impact of Land Use on Karst Water Resources—A Case Study of the Kupa (Kolpa) Transboundary River Catchment

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3226
Author(s):  
Ana Selak ◽  
Ivana Boljat ◽  
Jasmina Lukač Reberski ◽  
Josip Terzić ◽  
Barbara Čenčur Curk
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Karst Water ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Water Quality Indices ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater ◽  
Hazard Levels

This paper presents a qualitative approach for assessing land-use pressures on the water resources of a transboundary Dinaric karst catchment of the Kupa River in Southeast Europe. Spatial analyses of the water quality indices for surface water and groundwater were carried out in a GIS environment, as well as a detailed assessment of man-made hazards based on recommendations of COST Action 620. The produced maps provide an insight into the qualitative status of water resources at a regional scale by indicating areas of potential negative impacts of land use through the identification of point and diffuse sources of pollution. Higher values of the water quality indices for surface water and groundwater are observed in lowland areas, karst plateaus and poljes, where the impacts of anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and quarries take place on karstified permeable carbonate rocks. Hazard assessment showed how transport infrastructure induces a low hazard level. Settlement areas without proper sewerage systems impose moderate hazard levels, while direct wastewater discharges into groundwater and waste illegally disposed in karst swallow holes and caves located near settlements were classified as having high hazard levels. The applied methods proved to be suitable even in challenging karst environments where the complex properties and structure make the exploration and monitoring of groundwater resources difficult and scarce.

Impacts of land use and water quality on macroinvertebrate communities in the Pearl River drainage basin, China

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 652 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
David Dudgeon ◽  
Dongsheng Cheng ◽  
Wai Thoe ◽  
Lincoln Fok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Pearl River ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
River Drainage ◽  
The Pearl River ◽  
River Drainage Basin
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