Assessment of Water Quality in Selected Dams in Machakos Municipality, Kenya

Abstract

The world is faced with a water quality crisis due to human activities that are putting a lot of pressure on water resources and especially dams and rivers. Dams are very much needed in arid and semi-arid areas to curb water scarcity so that local communities can have water for domestic use, watering of livestock and carrying out small scale irrigation. The aim of this study was to assess the water quality of Maruba dam and Kyai earth dam in Machakos Municipality, Kenya. The physical and chemical variables examined included pH, chlorides, electric conductivity, turbidity, nitrites, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates and total dissolved solids. Water samples were collected using 500ml plastic bottles weekly for a month in the two dams and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Independent T-test was used to compare means of water quality parameters between the two dams and significant differences accepted at p<0.05. All the water quality parameters measured except turbidity were within WHO set standards for domestic water. The information gathered in this study is helpful to the Water Resource Authority that is mandated to protect and conserve water resources in Kenya.

Keywords: Water quality crisis, Maruba dam, Kyai earth dam, Machakos municipality

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-10-04

Publication date:October 31^st 2021