Open AccessImpacts of Urbanization on Seasonal Water Quality Dynamics in Mudi River in Blantyre District, Malawi
Author(s) -
Sylvester Richard Chikabvumbwa,
Malairajan Singanan,
Sylvester William Chisale
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international research journal of science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2707-3955
DOI - 10.46378/irjst.2021.020205
Subject(s) - environmental science , urbanization , water quality , dry season , hydrology (agriculture) , wet season , drainage , drainage basin , seasonality , water resource management , environmental engineering , geography , ecology , geology , biology , cartography , geotechnical engineering
This study investigated the status of water quality in the Mudi River due tourbanization and increasing soil erosion levels. Water samples were collectedduring dry (October 2019) and wet seasons (January 2020) from three selectedstrategic places i.e. before the city limit, within the city, and out-skirt the city.Physicochemical and biological parameters such as pH, temperature, electricconductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and fecal coliforms wereexamined on the Mudi River water. Obtained data were analyzed using StatisticalPackage for Social Scientists and ArcGIS 10.8. The results revealed that theMudi River has lower water quality as most parameters exceeded therecommended limits thresholds, which may found that the Mudi River water waspolluted significantly. Even though, quality of the studied river water was foundas significantly better during the wet season than the dry season (p<0.05), whichmay be due to the dilution effect of the rainfall. This study recommends to theconcerned body to increase the environmental awareness, integrate the solidwaste management in the city, proper drainage systems, rehabilitation of sewerlines, and creating a buffer to protect river bank cultivation and continuousmonitoring of the river using Geographic Information Systems.