Abstract
The world is faced with a water quality crisis due to human activities that are putting a lot of pressure on water resources and especially dams and rivers. Dams are very much needed in arid and semi-arid areas to curb water scarcity so that local communities can have water for domestic use, watering of livestock and carrying out small scale irrigation. The aim of this study was to assess the water quality of Maruba dam and Kyai earth dam in Machakos Municipality, Kenya. The physical and chemical variables examined included pH, chlorides, electric conductivity, turbidity, nitrites, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates and total dissolved solids. Water samples were collected using 500ml plastic bottles weekly for a month in the two dams and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Independent T-test was used to compare means of water quality parameters between the two dams and significant differences accepted at p<0.05. All the water quality parameters measured except turbidity were within WHO set standards for domestic water. The information gathered in this study is helpful to the Water Resource Authority that is mandated to protect and conserve water resources in Kenya. Keywords : Water quality crisis, Maruba dam, Kyai earth dam, Machakos municipality DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-10-04 Publication date: October 31 st 2021
Highlights
1.0 Introduction Fresh water is a precious resource that is essential for human health and sustainable development
The study concluded that the water quality parameters measured except turbidity were within WHO set standards for domestic water
The higher levels of turbidity within the two dams is an indication of poor farming practices leading to soil erosion and accumulation of silt within the two dams
Summary
Fresh water is a precious resource that is essential for human health and sustainable development. Environmental and social benefits to local communities in Africa. These includes water supply for drinking, flood control, hydro-electric power, irrigation, aquaculture and recreation. The nature and extent of human activities be it agricultural, domestic, industrial will determine the degree and nature of water quality status either on temporal or spatial scales. This deterioration in water quality and quantity impacts the availability of clean and safe drinking water for populations and affects the aquatic ecosystem. According to WHO (2008), about one billion people have no access to safe drinking water resulting into water crisis
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