Poor Water Quality Research Articles

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and quality assessment of surface and groundwater around Adudu-Abuni lead-zinc minefields, Northcentral Nigeria

ABSTRACTThis study aims to evaluate the effects of contaminants on the surface and groundwater resources in the mining communities of Adudu-Abuni, Central-Nigeria. Thirty-one (31) water samples including 21 surface (streams) and 10 groundwater were analyzed for physicochemical parameters (major cations, anions, and heavy metals) using the APHA (2011) and (ICP-MS) standard methods. Physicochemical analysis showed that the concentration of heavy metal for both surface and groundwater of the area in the following order of abundance Fe>Pb>Zn>Cu>Cr>Cd>As and Fe>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd>As, respectively. High concentrations of the heavy metals in the surface and groundwater are attributed to anthropogenic activities; improper channeling of mine effluents into the environments, these effluents reacted via oxidation and dissolution process, making solutions (contaminants) infiltrate into the aquifer system. Results showed for both surface (67%) and groundwater (70%) waterfall within the rock weathering dominance for both anions and cations, with few exceptions who fall into the precipitation dominance, suggesting that rock–water interface is the primary influencer for both surface and groundwater chemistry. This deduced that rock weathering and precipitations are the principal factors controlling the water chemistry in the study areas. WQI analysis for groundwater shows that the northern axis of the area depicts poor water quality while the southern regions are good for drinking. Whereas surface water source from the southern zones is unsuitable for drinking, while those in the northern region are good. This is attributed to the proximity of Pb-Zn mines to the southern region because streams within this zone serve as repositories for mine effluents.

EPIPHYTIC DIATOMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOINDICATION: A CASE STUDY OF A SIGNIFICANT NATURAL LAKE IN THE NORTHWEST OF TURKEY

Aim of the study: The Gala Lake, which has a status of National Park and is an under-protection area, is the one of the most important natural stagnant water bodies in the Marmara Region of Türkiye. However, it is under effect of a significant agricultural stress sourced by mainly paddy cultivation. In this research, the epiphytic diatoms of Gala Lake were investigated, and the trophic status of the lake was assessed by applying the Biological Diatom Index (BDI). Material and methods: Epiphytic diatom samples were collected from the submerged macrophytes from 5 selected locations on the lake (G1–G5) with different ecological characters observed to be exposed to different pollution pressures. Results and conclusions: As a result of taxonomic data, 37 diatom species were recorded by identifying a total of 2095 valves, and Cyclotella meneghiniana, Bacillaria paxillifera, and Navicula recens were found as the most dominant species for the Gala Lake. According to the results of bioindication data, Gala Lake was found to be in a "eutrophic state"—"having poor water quality" in terms of applied BDI.

A Novel Water Quality Index for Iraqi Surface Water

The study aims to build a water quality index that fits the Iraqi aquatic systems and reflects the environmental reality of Iraqi water. The developed Iraqi Water Quality Index (IQWQI) includes physical and chemical components. To build the IQWQI, Delphi method was used to communicate with local and global experts in water quality indices for their opinion regarding the best and most important parameter we can use in building the index and the established weight of each parameter. From the data obtained in this study, 70% were used for building the model and 30% for evaluating the model. Multiple scenarios were applied to the model inputs to study the effects of increasing parameters. The model was built 4 by 4 until it reached 17 parameters for 10 sampling times. Obviously, with the increasing number of parameters, the value of the index will change. To minimize the effect of eclipse that arises in WQI and to solve the problem of overlapping quality and pollution, this study has created another index linked with IQWQI, which included both the quality and the degree of pollution. The second index is called the Environmental Risk Index (ERI), where only the variables that exceed the permissible environmental limits were included. Sensitivity Analysis was done to predicate IQWQI and to determine the most influential parameters in the IQWQI score; two types of models were chosen for the run of the sensitivity test, which are the Artificial Neural Network Regression (ANNR) and Backward Linear Regression (BLR). The results of IWOI and ERI for freshwater use during the dry season were very poor water quality with a high degree of risk. While in the wet season, both indices' values ranged from poor water quality to very poor water quality with a high degree of risk.

Water Pollution's Global Threat to Public Health : A Mini-Review

Water resources are essential for a region's development, serving as a primary source of drinking water, agriculture, and industry. However, water contamination from natural and human activities is a global public health threat. This review consolidates data from various studies and reports to comprehensively examine water pollution's impact on public health. Over 80% of untreated sewage is released into water bodies, causing environmental pollution and contributing to over 50 diseases. Poor water quality is responsible for 80% of diseases and 50% of child deaths worldwide. The impact of water pollution varies regionally and by age and gender. This paper aims to clarify the link between water pollution and public health, including the association of water pollution with diarrhea, skin diseases, cancer, and impact on child health. Diarrhea is the most common waterborne illness, primarily transmitted by aquatic enteroviruses. Exposure to heavily polluted water increases the risk of skin diseases. Water pollution can affect human health through the source, treatment, and distribution of water. Prominent waterborne carcinogens include arsenic, nitrate, chromium, and trihalomethanes. To mitigate these risks, governments must strengthen water management, implement measures to improve water quality and reduce the adverse impact of water pollution on human health.

Associations among Drinking Water Quality, Dyslipidemia, and Cognitive Function for OlderAdults in China

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological evidence has shown that poor drinking water quality can lead to dyslipidemia, which might be associated with cognitive decline or lower domain‐specific cognitive function in older adults. Given the prevalence of water pollution, dyslipidemia, and dementia in China, it is important to examine the association between drinking water quality and cognitive function in older Chinese and to identify the direct and indirect effects of drinking water quality and dyslipidemia on their cognitive function.MethodPrimary data for the study were selected from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2015) and 4,951 respondents aged 60 and above were included. Data on drinking water quality were selected from the 2015 prefectural water quality data from the Institute of Public and Environment Affairs in China. Mixed effects models were conducted to assess the associations of cognitive function with drinking water quality and dyslipidemia. The mediation effects of dyslipidemia were examined by path analyses.ResultExposure to high quality drinking water was significantly associated with higher scores in mental status, episodic memory, and global cognition (β = 0.34, p < 0.001 for mental status; β = 0.24, p < 0.05 for episodic memory; β = 0.58, p < 0.01 for global cognition). Respondents who reported dyslipidemia diagnosis had higher scores in the three composite measures of cognitive function (β = 0.39, p < 0.001 for mental status; β = 0.27 p < 0.05 for episodic memory; β = 0.66, p < 0.001 for global cognition). An elevated blood triglycerides was only associated with higher scores in mental status (β = 0.21, p < 0.05). Self‐reported dyslipidemia diagnosis was a suppressor, which increased the magnitude of the direct effect of drinking water quality on mental status, episodic memory, and global cognition.ConclusionDrinking water quality was associated with cognitive function in older Chinese and the relationship was independent of natural or socioeconomic variations in neighborhood environments. Improving drinking water quality could be a potential public health effort to delay the onset of cognitive impairment and prevent the dementia pandemic in older people.

Monitoring dan Klasifikasi Kualitas Air Kolam Ikan Gurami Berbasis Internet of Things Menggunakan Metode Naive Bayes

Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) noted that Indonesia produced 56,539 tons of gourami fish in the second quarter of 2022 High market demand and economical selling prices encourage farmers to cultivate gourami fish. In cultivating gourami fish there are several obstacles, for example, disease caused by poor water quality. Water quality is the main parameter in the success of gourami fish farming. This research aims to develop a water quality monitoring system based on the Internet of Things. The system prototype uses a temperature sensor (DS18B20), Ph sensor (dfrobot SEN0161), turbidity sensor (dfrobot SEN0189), flowmeter, and ultrasonic sensor (JSN-SR04) as input. The Arduino Mega R3 microcontroller is the processor and the Oled module (SSD1306) is the output. Thingboard is a cloud server that functions as sensor data monitoring. Temperature sensor testing results (DS18B20) average error 0.48%, Ph(dfrobot SEN0161) sensor testing average error 0.64%, ultrasonic sensor testing (JSN-SR04) average error 7.83%, testing Turbidity sensors can measure the level of water turbidity. Next, the water quality parameter data is processed using the Naïve Bayes algorithm method for classifying the water quality of gourami ponds. The results of this classification obtained an accuracy of 99.94% a Kappa Statistics value of 0.9989 and a Mean Absolute Error of 0.0003

The Long-Term Detection of Suspended Particulate Matter Concentration and Water Colour in Gravel and Sand Pit Lakes through Landsat and Sentinel-2 Imagery

Over the past half century, the demand for sand and gravel has led to extensive quarrying activities, creating many pit lakes (PLs) which now dot floodplains and urbanized regions globally. Despite the potential importance of these environments, systematic data on their location, morphology and water quality remain limited. In this study, we present an extensive assessment of the physical and optical properties in a large sample of PLs located in the Po River basin (Italy) from 1990 to 2021, utilizing a combined approach of remote sensing (Landsat constellation and Sentinel-2) and traditional limnological techniques. Specifically, we focused on the concentration of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and the dominant wavelength (λdom, i.e., water colour). This study aims to contribute to the analysis of PLs at a basin scale as an opportunity for environmental rehabilitation and river floodplain management. ACOLITE v.2022, a neural network particularly suitable for the analysis of turbid waters and small inland water bodies, was used to atmospherically correct satellite images and to obtain SPM concentration maps and the λdom. The results show a very strong correlation between SPM concentrations obtained in situ and those obtained from satellite images, both for data derived from Landsat (R2 = 0.85) and Sentinel-2 images (R2 = 0.82). A strong correlation also emerged from the comparison of spectral signatures obtained in situ via WISP-3 and those derived from ACOLITE, especially in the visible spectrum (443–705 nm, SA = 10.8°). In general, it appeared that PLs with the highest mean SPM concentrations and the highest mean λdom are located along the main Po River, and more generally near rivers. The results also show that active PLs exhibit a poor water quality status, especially those of small sizes (<5 ha) and directly connected to a river. Seasonal comparison shows the same trend for both SPM concentration and λdom: higher values in winter gradually decreasing until spring–summer, then increasing again. Finally, it emerged that the end of quarrying activity led to a reduction in SPM concentration from a minimum of 43% to a maximum of 72%. In this context, the combined use of Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery allowed for the evaluation of the temporal evolution of the physical and optical properties of the PLs in a vast area such as the Po River basin (74,000 km2). In particular, the Sentinel-2 images consistently proved to be a reliable resource for capturing episodic and recurring quarrying events and portraying the ever-changing dynamics of these ecosystems.

Rapid assessment of surface water quality using statistical multivariate analysis approach: Oder River system case study

Many physicochemical and biological monitored parameters must be taken into consideration to fully evaluate the surface water environmental condition. However, there are situations where a simple and rapid assessment of the poor water quality situations is critically important. This work presents a universal methodology for monitoring of many parameters simultaneously and early detection out-of-control samples in a real-time mode. The approach uses multivariate statistical quality control chart based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model with two well-known measures of abnormal behaviour in a process or system: Hoteling's T2 statistics and Q-statistic. The proposed TQ_PCA quality index provides on-line assessment of the water sample quality, with no specific knowledge and assumptions about control limits for monitored parameters required. A water sample is assessed through the simple control chart using the PCA model established for training/reference samples. The power of the proposed index has been tested using water quality data from the Oder River, including the time of the largest ecological disaster in recent European river history. The proposed index showed excellent analysis performance for physicochemical water quality dataset from Polish stations and physicochemical and biological water quality dataset from German/Frankfurt station, confirming earlier reports. There were consecutive number of alarms reported by the statistical index, a month prior to the disaster when there were no evident changes in the individual parameters. The method presented in this study demonstrated capability of assessment of the major water quality parameters, whose changes preempt the uncommon event. The presented TQ_PCA index could be easily extended to any research involving a large dataset of monitoring parameters from any industrial chemical process.

Comparing the performance of the water quality index and phytoplankton index of biotic integrity in assessing the ecological status of three urban rivers in Haikou City, China

The urban rivers, Changwang, Meishe, and Wuyuan, are vital water resources in Haikou City, China. However, pollution from various anthropogenic activities negatively impacts their ecological status. This study aimed to develop and compare the performance of a minimum water quality index (WQImin) and phytoplankton index of biotic integrity (P-IBI) in assessing the rivers' ecological status for protection purposes. Samples were collected and analyzed seasonally from March to December 2019. The results revealed that TP, DO, COD, TN, and turbidity were critical for developing the WQImin. The WQImin values showed no significant spatial and seasonal differences. Thus, it rated the rivers “moderate,” with the highest and lowest WQImin values in winter and summer. The P-IBI was developed using phytoplankton density, Chl-a, biomass, and Margalef richness. Notably, the P-IBI values differed significantly at seasonal but not spatial scales. It rated Changwang and Wuyuan “moderate,” whereas Meishe was “low.” Moreover, Autumn and summer had the highest and lowest P-IBI values. Interestingly, the P-IBI demonstrated that parameters such as COD, TN, NH4+-N, EC, pH, turbidity, and temperature decreased with improving water quality, while water transparency increased with improved water quality. The WQImin and P-IBI assessment results were consistent. The indices showed that summer had poor water quality than other seasons. In addition, the indices negatively correlated with the trophic level index (TLI). In contrast, the P-IBI ratings were significantly lower than WQImin at spatial and seasonal scales. Hence, this study suggests that WQImin and P-IBI can effectively assess the ecological conditions of the rivers and that the critical parameters and metrics for their development might vary in different regions. In addition, P-IBI may provide stricter standards than WQImin for water quality assessment.

Association of coal fired power plants with river water quality in South Africa

The national power utility owns and operates approximately 95% of the coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in South Africa. It has been hypothesised that power generation activities lead to the acidification and salination of surface water sources in the vicinity of CFPPs, with upwind sites more polluted than downwind sites. For the purpose of this study, three of power utility’s CFPPs were selected, namely Kriel, Komati and Camden Power Plants, which will be reaching the end of their operating lifespan during the mid-to-late 2020 s. The main aim of the study was to analyse the raw water quality data upstream and downstream of these three CFPPs. Raw water supply to the CFPPs for power generation was abstracted from the Rietspruit, Koringspruit and Witpuntspruit streams, respectively. To determine whether the particulate and gaseous emissions affected the water quality from 2012 to 2018, multivariate statistical analyses were applied. The water quality data indicated poor water quality both downwind and upwind of the power plants when thirteen out of 20 (65%) selected water quality variables exceeded the resource quality objectives (RQO) limits, which could be attributed to anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, coal burning and coal mining; causing increased acidity and salinity in the various water sources. In conclusion, the study suggested that there is no direct correlation between the emissions from coal burning and the coal-fired power plants receiving streams; an indication that power generation may not be the only anthropogenic factor influencing the water quality of the streams.

“That’S What We Call ‘Aesthetics,’ Not A Public Health Issue”: The Social Construction Of Tap Water Mistrust In An Underbounded Community

In the United States, underbounded communities—urban disadvantaged unincorporated neighborhoods characterized by high-poverty and high residential density lying just outside the border of an incorporated municipality—often lack consistent access to clean and safe water. Poor water quality and inadequate infrastructure shape residents’ risk perceptions, often leading to tap water mistrust, but little is known about the broader social, political, and economic drivers of water quality in these settings or about how such drivers inform the social construction of risk across different stakeholder groups. Using an underbounded African-American/Hispanic neighborhood in the Tampa Bay metropolitan region as a case study, we illustrate how tap water mistrust is socially constructed and how these constructions contrast between neighborhood residents and government officials. Interviews and participant observation with these groups reveal that tap water mistrust emerges from the nexus of inadequate infrastructure, poor housing conditions, challenges relating to the affordability of piped water, and jurisdictional disconnects. We call for interventions that foreground participatory research, integrate social and cultural context into technical solutions, and prioritize equitability in decision making.

Examining the impact of climate change on water resources in Somalia: The role of adaptation

This review article explores the impact of climate change on water resources in Somalia, with a particular focus on the role of adaptation. The article discusses the effects of climate change on Somalia's water resources, including floods, drought, sea-level rise, drying up rivers, and poor water quality. It further examines the effects of climate change on surface water, groundwater, and precipitation and how it affects the ecosystem, communities, and economic and social impacts. The article also considers the health, food insecurity, and vulnerability to climate change in different regions of Somalia. It further discusses the capacity to mitigate climate change and the strategies of adaptation, such as building resilient cities and a holistic approach to risk management. The article also provides possible solutions, such as policy relevant to water audit and water management and the engagement of private, civil, and international sectors. Finally, the article argues that a major crisis can be averted if these strategies are implemented.

Drinking Water Quality As A Risk Factor of Stunting : A Systematic Review

Stunting is a nutritional problem that needs attention because of its risk to future generations. The causes of stunting are related to environmental factors such as sanitation and drinking water quality. Intervention efforts are carried out to improve sanitation and drinking water quality, which is regarded as a risk factor. This article reviewed literature relevant to the topic from Science Direct, Scopus, EBSCO (CINAHL, MEDLINE), and Proquest databases from 2020-2024 publications with the keywords Water Quality and Stunting, then analyzed using a synthesis matrix. The inclusion criteria for this study were articles in English with a correlational design and full text. The results of the journal review found six articles that stated that sanitation factors, especially the quality of drinking water, were the cause of the stunting problem. The quality of drinking water is related to bacterial contamination due to disasters (floods), risk factors for unhealthy behavior, and open toilets. Poor water quality causes infection, which indirectly affects other factors that affect linear growth (weight and height), which are indicators of stunting. Interventions reduce the prevalence of stunting by improving sanitation, especially the quality of proper drinking water, and improving clean living behavior in the community.

Single-stage microwave-irradiated activated carbon from corncob for ammonia nitrogen removal: Batch, attraction mechanism and regeneration studies

The existence of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in water reservoirs contribute to the poor quality of water, thus affecting aquatic life and human. Therefore, the goal of this study was to treat NH3-N from wastewater using activated carbon derived from corncob (CCAC). The CCAC was produced through a single-stage microwave irradiation technique where carbon dioxide (CO2) was utilized for the gasification effect. The CCAC demonstrated a mesoporous surface area measuring 645.97 m2/g, accompanied by a total pore volume of 0.41 cm3/g. Furthermore, the average pore diameter was determined to be 2.74 nm. The equilibrium study revealed that NH3-N uptakes and NH3-N percentage removal increased (9.11–59.49 mg/g) and declined (91.10–59.49 %), respectively, when NH3-N initial concentration increased from 10 to 100 mg/L. At a solution temperature of 30 °C, the greatest adsorption capacity for NH3-N was observed, reaching 59.49 mg/g. Similarly, at a pH of 4, the adsorption capacity peaked at 71.46 mg/g. Adsorption of NH3-N onto CCAC obeyed the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-first order (PFO) kinetic model. It was determined that the maximum monolayer coverage, Qm was 78.05 mg/g. The investigation of the mechanism indicated that film diffusion is the rate-determining step in the adsorption process. In the thermodynamic section, the parameters of ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG°, and Ea were computed to be −1.70 kJ/mol (exothermic in nature), 0.05 kJ/mol.K (elevated randomness at the solid-liquid interface), −18.22 kJ/mol (spontaneous) and 1.89 kJ/mol, respectively. The surface of CCAC was occupied with different functional groups namely nitro compound, aromatic compound, and phenol. These functional groups formed hydrogen bonding with NH3-N, thus aiding NH3-N removal from wastewater. In the regeneration study, CCAC can withstand up to 3 cycles before its yield dropped to 33.21 % and its adsorption capacity dropped to 10.15 %.

40 Genetic Selection for Water Intake in Beef Cattle

Abstract The amount of water consumed daily by beef cattle is a heritable trait, but one that likely has varying levels of importance across the US and the world. Results from a USDA-funded water intake and adaptability to water restriction (as a proxy for reduced consumption due to poor water quality) project will be presented.

Assessment and Mapping of Water Quality in Urban Communities: Insights for Sustainable Development

Water quality is crucial for public health, ecosystem well-being, and sustainable development. However, ensuring access to safe and reliable water sources in urban communities takes time and effort. Assessing and mapping water quality in these communities is vital to understanding the current state of water resources, identifying potential contamination sources, and addressing health impacts. This descriptive study aims to assess and map water quality using clarity, color, odor, taste, safety, stability, and convenience parameters. Data were collected from eight sub-districts in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, and a questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews or electronic distribution. The study included 200 households selected through purposive sampling. The assessment revealed varying water quality among households, with the distribution as follows: good (46.0%), enough (29.0%), bad (19.0%), and poor (1.5%). Spatial mapping results indicated poor water quality in the Lakkang and Rappokalling sub-districts and inadequate water quality in the Lembo, Tallo, and Buloa sub-districts. Conversely, Wala-walaya and Bunga Eja Beru sub-districts exhibited good and sufficient water quality. The research underscores the importance of prioritizing water resource management and implementing measures for sustainable development goals. By doing so, we can enhance public health and preserve valuable ecosystems.

Prevention of white impurities in vaname shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using noni fruit extract (Morinda citrifolia) in semi-intensive shrimp cultivation system

White vanamae shrimp is one of the superior commodities in aquaculture. Currently, the productivity of white vanamae shrimp has not yet reached its production target. So, it is necessary to increase the amount of production on a gradual scale carried out by the community. In shrimp farming activities, disease problems are often encountered. Namely is a white stool, white feces, or White Feces Disease (WFD). The clinical symptoms that arise when shrimp are attacked by White Feces Disease (WFD) are that the shrimp's appetite decreases, the shrimp's intestines change color to white and even look empty due to lack of food intake, white feces floating on the surface of the water, and the shrimp's growth becomes abnormal. This WFD disease can be caused by poor cultivation practices, unhealthy seeds, and poor water quality, causing the emergence of disease microorganisms such as Vibrio sp bacteria. One way to treat this disease is to provide alternative medicine, noni fruit extract. This research consisted of 3 noni extract treatments and consisted of 3 replications, namely Treatment A: 10 mL/L; Treatment B: 15 mL/L; Treatment C: 20 mL/L. The noni dose is given at the specified dose once daily for one month. The survival rate of shrimp increased to 86.7%.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Shallow and Deep Groundwater in the Heilongdong Spring Basin, Northern China

Heilongdong Spring Basin (HSB) is located in a semi-arid region in northern China. In the past few decades, it has been influenced by anthropogenic activities. Currently, there is a lack of information about the impact on the hydrogeochemistry and groundwater quality of different aquifers. To address this concern, the present study used conventional hydrochemical diagrams, stable isotope analysis and multivariate statistical techniques to analyze hydrochemical characteristics and controlling factors of shallow and deep groundwater in the study area. The results showed that all groundwater samples were weakly alkaline. The shallow groundwater (SGW) was mainly composed of SO4-Ca and SO4·HCO3-Ca·Mg water types with high TDS values. However, the predominant water types of deep groundwater (DGW) were HCO3-Ca·Mg and HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg types with relatively low TDS. The large majority of shallow groundwater had poor water quality, which was influenced by natural factors and anthropogenic activities, characterized by high concentrations of SO42−, NO3−, and Cl−. In contrast, the overall water quality of deep groundwater was good, mainly controlled by the natural background. Nonetheless, a few karst groundwater samples of DGW in runoff areas exhibited close hydraulic connections with SGW samples and presented contamination to a certain degree. Our research results provide a scientific basis for the utilization and protection of groundwater in different aquifers in northern China.

Detection of heavy metals using atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy in drinking water of Faisalabad, Pakistan: microbial safety and quality status assessment

Synthetic dyes from textile industries are designated as hazardous waste since they release heavy metals and dangerous contaminants in water that harm the environment and human health. The current study was aimed at investigating the heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Mn) in drinking water in seven regions of Faisalabad, Pakistan, through atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The physicochemical quality of 86.36% of the water samples met the WHO standards in the targeted regions, while 13.64% failed to meet the criteria. The water quality index (WQI) of selected water samples was calculated by integrating 11 physicochemical parameters, and the results indicated fair quality, whereas Madina, Jinnah, and Lyallpur Town showed poor water quality with contamination of Mn > Ni > Pb. The order of contamination for heavy metals in groundwater was Ni > Cu > Zn > Cr > Pb > Mn > Cd. The total plate count (TPC) and total coliform count (TCC) were found within the permissible range of WHO guidelines. Hence, consuming groundwater in the research regions may not present major health risks due to ingested metal toxicity; however, levels of Mn, Ni, and Pb might pose risks.

Status of livestock water quality and digestive upsets in Babati and Burunge areas, Northern Tanzania

This study investigated the quality of water used by ruminants and pseudo-ruminants in six communities living adjacent to two inland lakes in Manyara region, northern Tanzania. Water sampling included 20 samples from each village (n=120 for 6 villages) followed by laboratory analysis using ISO 5667 standard methods. 480 livestock were examined (n=80 for each village) for digestive upsets. Results for water quality were compared to those of WHO guidelines for livestock drinking water. Physical and chemical parameters for some areas were within acceptable limits except the levels of turbidity (10.88±11.97 NTU, 8.67±11.97 NTU), calcium (550.00±22.19 mg/L, 842.00±70.15 mg/L), chloride (1940±63.90 mg/L, 3380±135.65 mg/L), ammonium (5.94±0.42 mg/L, 6.79±0.58 mg/L), nitrate (113.62±10.64 mg/L, 71.16±12.92 mg/L, and hardness (1372.00±106.96 mg/L, 1280±75.27 mg/L) for Babati and Burunge areas respectively. Total coliform (3500 CFU, 2650 CFU) and Escherichia coli (167/100 ml, 192/100 ml) were counted for Babati and Burunge area respectively. Burunge area recorded higher cases of digestive upsets (53.8%) compared to Babati area (46.2%). There were no statistical differences in digestive upsets between the two Babati and Burunge areas (p=0.8246). A correlation analysis revealed a significant linear association between water quality measures and digestive upsets for diarrhoea (p= 0.001694, r > 0.5) and other factors (p= 0.000158, r > 0.5). In order to minimize livestock digestive upsets associated with poor water quality, communities in these areas should avoid excessive use of fertilizers that would increase nitrate levels, as well as prohibit anthropogenic activities taking place close to water sources.