Abstract
Freshwater supply is essential to life on Earth; however, land use activities such as mining and agriculture pose a significant danger to freshwater resources and the wellbeing of aquatic environments. This study temporarily assesses the water quality characteristics of Mutangwi River. Physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity) were determined in situ using an Extech multimeter and turbidity meter. The concentration of the selected metals (Mg, Cr, Fe, Cd, Mn, Pb, Ca, and Na) were analysed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Membrane filtration method was used to analyse microbiological parameters (Escherichia coli and Enterococci). The physicochemical water quality parameters as well as basic anions (fluoride, phosphate, sulfate, nitrate, and chloride) determined complied with the regulatory guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the South Africa National Standards (SANS). Some of the trace metals (Mn, Ca, Fe, and Mg) were found below the guideline values, while others (Pb and Cd) exceeded the threshold limit. The counts for E. coli (814.5–2169 cfu/100 mL) and Enterococci (333–9396 cfu/100 mL) in the study did not comply with the regulatory guidelines. The water quality status using the water quality index (WQI) indicated that on the average, the water quality from Mutangwi River is poor (WQI > 100). The hazard quotient through ingestion exposure did not exceed the threshold limit of 1, for adults and children. This implies that there is no potential non-carcinogenic health risk from trace elements via ingestion of drinking water for children and adults. However, cancer risk for adults and children was computed in relation to Cd and Pb levels and exceeded the threshold limit 10−4, indicating a possible carcinogenic risk. Water from the river should be adequately treated prior to domestic and agricultural use.
Highlights
Water quality often determines the fitness of water use for a variety of purposes.The assessment of water quality is important to evaluate the water use potential of any water resource [1]
Temperature plays a crucial role in water bodies with regards to chemical responses and the metabolic rates of life forms and it is a controlling factor of aquatic species distribution [27,28]
The results obtained in this study have presented baseline data on the water quality of Mutangwi River
Summary
Water quality often determines the fitness of water use for a variety of purposes. The assessment of water quality is important to evaluate the water use potential of any water resource [1]. The consumption of clean and safe water has been linked to increased health outcomes globally [2,3]. Despite the achievements that have been recorded with increased access to potable water, millions of people suffer various health-related preventable diseases due to the consumption of contaminated water [4]. In many cities and towns globally, sustainable access to clean and safe water has been reported; many people who live in peri-urban and rural regions of the world do not have continuous access to clean and safe water and they often resort to several alternative sources for their domestic water needs [5–9]. In most low-income countries, water is usually abstracted from rivers, lakes, and dams and used without any
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call