Water Quality Degradation Trends in Kenya over the Last Decade

Abstract

Water is described as both a chemical substance vital to life on earth and a means for navigation. Water, is a commodity that is consumed, and carrier of other substances or properties, such as heat, disease vectors, pollutants and energy (Jordaan et al. 1993). But, whereas the total quantity of water on earth remains constant, its quality changes in both time and space. The problem of water quality was articulated by Jordaan et al. (1993) as causing a great strain on water supply systems, especially in cities along river courses. Similarly, in 1985, at the midpoint of the international water supply and sanitation decade, it was pointed out that although 870 million people lived in urban areas of the developing world, roughly 1.6 million were rural inhabitants and approximately 22% of the urban group was lacking water supply service and 40% were without sanitation. The population represented 64% and about 85% as lacking water supply and sanitation services to the rural population, respectively (Jordaan, et al. 1993). In essence, the rural inhabitants are faced with a great threat of using low quality water compared to the urban counterparts. This explains the existent problem of water quality degradation not only in the urban areas but also in the rural areas.