Differences in Risk Perception of Water Quality and Its Influencing Factors between Lay People and Factory Workers for Water Management in River Sosiani, Eldoret Municipality Kenya

Anne Wambui Mumbi,Tsunemi Watanabe

doi:10.3390/w12082248

Abstract

This study evaluates the differences between risk predictors and risk perception regarding water pollution. Specifically, it focuses on the differences in risk perception between factory workers and lay people situated in textile industries near the River Sosiani in Eldoret, Kenya. The lay people are divided into two groups. The respondents living downstream are situated mostly in town centers and at the mid/lower parts of the river, and the respondents living upstream are mainly found at the upper parts of the River Sosiani. Data were obtained from 246 participants using questionnaires. Several factors influencing risk perception were selected to evaluate the degree of perceived risk amongst the groups. Descriptive statistics, mean score and correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the data. The one-way ANOVA results showed statistically different levels of risk perceptions amongst the groups. The partial and bivariate correlation analyses revealed the differences in scientific knowledge between respondents upstream and downstream. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that each group used different variables to determine risks in the region. In the factory group, 56.1% of the variance in risk perception is significantly predicted by sensorial factors, trust in the government’s capacity to manage water pollution and the impact of water pollution on human health. About 65.9% of the variance in risk perception of the downstream inhabitants is significantly predicted by sensorial factors, the possibility of industries generating water pollution, and previous experience with water pollution. For the respondents located upstream, age, sensorial factors, trust in the government and the possibility of being impacted by water pollution factors significantly predicted 37.05% of the variance in risk perception. These findings indicate that enhanced public participation in water governance amongst the residents of Eldoret town is needed, along with an understanding of the different characteristics of the respondents in the region during risk communication. This will boost awareness in the region and promote the adoption of better practices to minimise the adverse effects of water pollution faced by the region.

Highlights

The assessment of water quality is a critical activity in the face of the current decline in freshwater quantity and deteriorating water quality of the remaining available water resources across the globe [1].At present, 47% of the global population reside in areas that experience water scarcity for at least one monthWater 2020, 12, 2248; doi:10.3390/w12082248 www.mdpi.com/journal/waterWater 2020, 12, 2248 each year [2]
The current study is different from other studies conducted on the River Sosiani, which mostly addressed issues of water quality [1,30,31,32] and water pollution [33,34,35] of the river and its environs, with few or no studies focusing on risk perceptions and the local factors influencing these
50 solid respondents conducted systems to determine the area effectiveness of the questionnaire discharged in the River Sosiani from industries in the nearby areas account for a large percentage of water pollution, which has led to a decline in water quality and quantity [92]

Summary

Introduction

The assessment of water quality is a critical activity in the face of the current decline in freshwater quantity and deteriorating water quality of the remaining available water resources across the globe [1].At present, 47% of the global population reside in areas that experience water scarcity for at least one monthWater 2020, 12, 2248; doi:10.3390/w12082248 www.mdpi.com/journal/waterWater 2020, 12, 2248 each year [2]. The assessment of water quality is a critical activity in the face of the current decline in freshwater quantity and deteriorating water quality of the remaining available water resources across the globe [1]. Water quality is threatened by continuous population increase, economic developments, industrial and agricultural activities and climate change. These activities and increased water pollution have significantly threatened the hydrological cycle. Water pollution continues to increase, mostly as a result of large-scale industrial and agricultural production. Such activities typically generate large amounts of wastewater, which when untreated and disposed in water bodies contribute to massive water pollution

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