The quality of drinking water used by the communities in some regions of Uganda

The study was done to assess the suitability of drinking water sources used by some communities in Uganda and the associated consumption risks. Water samples were collected, treated and tested according to standard methods of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Results of physicochemical and microbiological parameters were: NOu- 3 (0.01-4.6 mg/l); turbidity (< 5-97.6NTU); Total dissolved solids (59- 420.9 mg/l); conductivity (28-760 µS/cm); pH (5.3-7.2); temperature (23-25.90 °C), total coliform (0-940 cfu/100ml), faecal coliform (0-200 cfu/100ml). Risk of Contamination (ROC) assessment agreed with water quality analysis that found boreholes to be the safest (<1 CFU/100mL) water source, followed in order by rainwater, standpipe taps and protected springs. Shallow wells, unprotected springs and surface water (e.g. streams) were high risk (≥100 CFU/100 mL) water sources. Nitrate.nitrogen, faecal coliform and total coliform were higher than WHO standards for drinking water in most of the water springs and wells. The management of community water sources is discussed.Keywords: Bacteriological, risk of contamination, physicochemical, communities water sources

Impact of Industrial Effluents on Water Quality of Streams in Nakawa-Ntinda, Uganda

In Uganda industries generate large proportions of solid wastes and wastewater. The wastes are disposed into the environment untreated leading to pollution. This study was undertaken to examine selectedphysicochemical parameters of streams that receive effluents from different categories of industries in Nakawa -Ntinda industrial area of Kampala. the stream water quality were pH (3.68 -12.41mg/l), EC (212 - 4633 ìScm-1), turbidity (20.9 - 715.9NTU), colour (72 - 958TCU), BOD (16.4 -325.5 mg/l), COD (39 -1351mg/l), TN (0.45 - 32.63mg/l), TP (0.078 - 1.674mg/l), Na (0.59 - 53.04mg/l), Cl (11.68 - 31.08mg/l), Ca (6.38- 38.75mg/l), Pb (0.039 - 0.256mg/l), Cu (0.015 - 0.52 mg/l) and Cd (below detection limit). Food and beverage industries discharged effluents in noncompliance to Ugandan national regulations (BOD, COD, EC, Nitrogen, Turbidity and Colour), while chemical and pharmaceutical industries did not comply as regards heavy metals. All the industries did not have any wastewater treatment plant. This study reveals a scenario typical of most industries in developing nations where enforcement of environmental regulations are deficient. To avoid pollution Regulatory Authorities should closely monitor compliance by industries

Monitoring Residual Chlorine Decay and Coliform Contamination in Water Distribution Network of Kampala, Uganda

The study was undertaken to examine water quality in the distribution network of Kampala City by assessing five storage reservoirs and four consumer taps. The aim was to evaluate residual chlorine decay andrelate it to the risk of recontamination. Physicochemical quality of water in the distribution network was temperature 25.6(24.23-28.66) pH 6.6 (6.5-7.1); turbidity 1.9 (0.5-4.5) NTU; colour 17.2 (2.0-54) PtCo, ammonia0.02 (0.0-0.05) mgl-1, and Fe2+ 0.005 (0-0.0.08) mgl-1. Residual chlorine decay was significant between the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the storage tanks (Total Chlorine, F=35.67, P< 0.05; Free Chlorine, F=37.97,

Microbial safety assessment of recreation water at Lake Nabugabo, Uganda

This study assessed the microbial safety of Lake Nabugabo beaches for recreation. Faecal microbial indicators and physico-chemical characteristics of beach recreational water were determined. Water sampling was done between 10.00 and 11.30 h and 1700 and 18.00 h. Data was analysed using student t-tests, ANOVA and spearman correlation (at 95%). Results were: total coliform (10.5-15.8 CFU/100 ml), faecal coliform (10-12.5 CFU/100 ml), Escherichia coli (0 2.63 CFU/100 ml), faecal streptococci (0-1.5 CFU/100 ml), all significantly different (P&lt;0.05) from the control and electrical conductivity (27-32.6 μS/cm), pH (7.1), turbidity (12.6-26 NTU), total dissolved solids (13.2-15.4 mg/l), total suspended solids (12.6 - 13.4), colour (10.3 Pt-Co), alkalinity (29.3 mg/l), hardness (CaCO3) (32.5 mg/l), total nitrogen (1.3 mg/l), ammonium-N (0.6 mg/l), nitrate (0.05 mg/l), total phosphorus (0.8 mg/l), orthophosphates (0.02 mg/l), iron (0.2-0.3 mg/l), calcium (1.2-1.8 mg/l), magnesium (0.4-0.6 mg/l), sodium (1.2-2 mg/l), potassium (1.8-2.6 mg/l), all not significantly different (P &gt; 0.05) from the control. Total coliforms and faecal streptococci exhibited significant correlation with TSS (r = 0.9, p = 0.04). Results indicate that Lake Nabugabo water is safe (WHO, US-EPA) for recreation.Keywords: Lake Nabugabo, microbial safety assessment, recreation water, water quality

Seasonal physicochemical variation in the Nabugabo wetland

The study determined physicochemical characteristics of Lake Nabugabo wetland during a wet and a dry season to evaluate season variation in water quality. Standard (APHA 1992) and HACH methods wereused to determine the physicochemical parameters for a period of one seasonal cycle. Results were pH 3.8 (3.0-4.2); temperature 23.0 (19.4 – 26.4) 0C; conductivity 20.5(15.6-30.45) ìScm-1; total dissolved solids 11.4(4.1-14.2) mgl-1;dissolved oxygen 3.9(0.0 -5.3) mgl-1; Ca++ 3.0 (0.2-4.3) mgl-1; Mg++ 2.1(0.06-2.5) mgl-1; K+ 0.9 (0.8-1.1) mgl-1; Na+ 2.9 (2.1-3.2) mgl-1; total phosphorus 0.3 (0.07-1.3) mgl-1; soluble reactive phosphate 0.002 (0.004-0.06) mgl-1; total nitrogen 0.8 (0.5-1.8) mgl-1; nitrate-nitrogen 0.01(0.001-0.12) mgl-1; ammonianitrogen0.46 (0.1-2.2) mgl-1. Nitrate-nitrogen and dissolved oxygen varied significantly (P0.05) variation with season. The wetland hydroperiods were 0.83 north of Lake Nabugabo and 0.58 south of the Lake. Seasonal variations of nitrogenand phosphorus concentrations were strongly linked to rainfall and hydroperiods. The study showed that the wetland water quality varies with season which is important for designing temporal sampling strategy and the understanding of wetland influence on adjacent open water bodies

Providing Sanitation for the Urban Poor in Uganda

After presenting background information on urbanization in Uganda, the chapter provides an overview of sanitation in the urban centres, where different social classes reside in separate zones. Factors determining sanitation provision and the use of sanitary facilities particularly in the informal settlements, or slums, of the larger cities are identified. Substantial groups among the population do not have access to formal sanitation facilities and have to resort to improvized unhygienic means of human excreta disposal that pose health risks. This situation underlines the need for innovative community-oriented approaches to address the sanitation challenge. By examining centralized water-based systems of sanitation vis-à-vis decentralized options, opportunities for including the urban poor in environmental service provision are identified

Impact of Industrial Effluents on Water Quality of Streams in Nakawa-Ntinda, Uganda

In Uganda industries generate large proportions of solid wastes and wastewater. The wastes are disposed into the environment untreated leading to pollution. This study was undertaken to examine selectedphysicochemical parameters of streams that receive effluents from different categories of industries in Nakawa -Ntinda industrial area of Kampala. the stream water quality were pH (3.68 -12.41mg/l), EC (212 - 4633 ìScm-1), turbidity (20.9 - 715.9NTU), colour (72 - 958TCU), BOD (16.4 -325.5 mg/l), COD (39 -1351mg/l), TN (0.45 - 32.63mg/l), TP (0.078 - 1.674mg/l), Na (0.59 - 53.04mg/l), Cl (11.68 - 31.08mg/l), Ca (6.38- 38.75mg/l), Pb (0.039 - 0.256mg/l), Cu (0.015 - 0.52 mg/l) and Cd (below detection limit). Food and beverage industries discharged effluents in noncompliance to Ugandan national regulations (BOD, COD, EC, Nitrogen, Turbidity and Colour), while chemical and pharmaceutical industries did not comply as regards heavy metals. All the industries did not have any wastewater treatment plant. This study reveals a scenario typical of most industries in developing nations where enforcement of environmental regulations are deficient. To avoid pollution Regulatory Authorities should closely monitor compliance by industries

Comparative Assessment of Ambient Air Standards in Rural Areas to Uganda City Centers

Background: Little quantitative data has been collected to reflect the ambient air quality in Uganda city centers. This is particularly important as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2014 that 3.7 million people worldwide die prematurely from toxic air quality. This study investigated ambient air quality in Kampala, Uganda and compared it to nearby rural forest reserves. Methods: Over the course of six months, from November 2013 to April 2014, we measured carbon monoxide, oxidants, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide at five different sites using an impinge air quality testing apparatus. This data was compared to the Environmental Protection Agency, WHO, and Ugandan standards for air quality. Additionally, the data was calculated using an Air Quality Index that reflected a range of health risks relating to elevated exposure of individual parameters. Results: We found that the air quality in the city center, particularly at a taxi holding station, was hazardous for inhalation due to elevated carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Likely, this can be accredited to lethargy, asthmatic conditions, and other related respiratory and cardiovascular health problems of Ugandans who routinely work and live in such polluted environments. Conclusions: Ambient air quality is largely ignored as an environmental concern in Uganda. The limited data set presented in our study suggests that there is a need for more qualitative and quantitative data collection to link vehicle abundance and inadequate traffic distribution patterns to ambient air pollution. Moreover, further investigations of cardiovascular and respiratory problems of urban Ugandans may be the stimulus needed to promote the integration of environmental concerns and health considerations into future urban planning

Comparative Assessment of Ambient Air Standards in Rural Areas to Uganda City Centers

Background: Little quantitative data has been collected to reflect the ambient air quality in Uganda city centers. This is particularly important as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2014 that 3.7 million people worldwide die prematurely from toxic air quality. This study investigated ambient air quality in Kampala, Uganda and compared it to nearby rural forest reserves. Methods: Over the course of six months, from November 2013 to April 2014, we measured carbon monoxide, oxidants, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide at five different sites using an impinge air quality testing apparatus. This data was compared to the Environmental Protection Agency, WHO, and Ugandan standards for air quality. Additionally, the data was calculated using an Air Quality Index that reflected a range of health risks relating to elevated exposure of individual parameters. Results: We found that the air quality in the city center, particularly at a taxi holding station, was hazardous for inhalation due to elevated carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Likely, this can be accredited to lethargy, asthmatic conditions, and other related respiratory and cardiovascular health problems of Ugandans who routinely work and live in such polluted environments. Conclusions: Ambient air quality is largely ignored as an environmental concern in Uganda. The limited data set presented in our study suggests that there is a need for more qualitative and quantitative data collection to link vehicle abundance and inadequate traffic distribution patterns to ambient air pollution. Moreover, further investigations of cardiovascular and respiratory problems of urban Ugandans may be the stimulus needed to promote the integration of environmental concerns and health considerations into future urban planning