Abstract
The demand for carbonated water in Kenya is in the rise, owing to increasing lifestyle diseases like obesity, which requires that to reduce weight and remain healthy; a lot of carbonated water should be taken throughout the day. This research was set to determine the potetntial use of Kilibwoni bubbling springs in Nandi County, Kenya. Six sampling points were identified; three bubbling points labeled as (P1, P2, and P4), a shallow well (P3), river (P5), and a spring (P6). A total of 60 samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. The samples were selected cations and anions, indicator bacteria, carbonation and physio-chemical properties. Spectrophotometry (HACH DR6000) was used to determine the concentrations of Nitrates, Phosphates, iron, manganese, Flame photometry was used for sodium and potassium determination, argentometric method for chloride, membrane filtration was used to determine total and feacal coliforms, dissolved carbon dioxide was determined using a carbonation meter (CarboQC). The water temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured in situ, using portable pre-calibrated HANNA waterproof Tester pH, TDS, Temperature, and Electrical Conductivity Meter (model HI 98129), complexiometric titration was used to establish the total hardness in the water. Results: The water was contaminated with feacal and total coliforms in all the sampling points P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6. High turbidity was recorded in sampling points P1, P2, P4, high amounts of iron and manganese above those recommended by WHO and KEBS for drinking water were recorded in most sampling points. The water recorded low pH values in both seasons for all but P5 sampling points with 6.8 and 6.37 in the rainy and dry seasons. The pH values for the other samples ranged between 3.41 - 4.93 in the rainy season and 3.8-5.25 in the dry season. The dissolved CO2 concentration of the water ranged from 1.20 g/L to 2.65 g/L in the rainy season and 1.50 g/L to 3.00 g/L in the dry season for all sampling points but P5 recorded CO2 values of 0.5 and 0.4 g/L for rainy and dry season respectively. The results showed the water from all the sampling points except P5, contained sufficient dissolved carbon dioxide for use as natural carbonated water. However, purification and treatment is necessary to lower the turbidity of the water, eliminate the microbial contaminants and adjust pH to at least 4, to conform to the KEBS recommendation for naturally carbonated water.
Highlights
Water is life and it is a scarce resource which requires sound planning and conservation
Parameters with higher values than the standards set by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water were shown in red in each and every table while pH that were lower than those accepted by the KEBS and the WHO were shown in yellow color
This research aimed to determine the water quality of Kilibwoni bubbling spring water and ascertain whether this water could be used as naturally carbonated mineral water
Summary
Water is life and it is a scarce resource which requires sound planning and conservation. The WHO standards require that at least 50 litres of water should be consumed per person per day. This target is not met because water is scarce. 97.5% of water is salty while a paltry 2.5% of water is fresh water and available for use by humanity [4]. These underscore the need to explore the potential for utilization of ground water which the proposed study on the potential for carbonated water in Kilibwoni area in Nandi County attempted to do.
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