ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION IN NDARUGU RIVER DUE TO RUNOFF AND AGRO‐ INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

Abstract

River Ndarugu is a tributary of Athi River in Kenya and is one of the main sources of fresh water for domestic use to the villages along the river bank and Nairobi City. It traverses Juja Township in Kiambu County, Central Kenya. During its course through the different agricultural and industrial areas of Gatundu, Gachororo and Juja farms, it receives untreated agro‐industrial waste discharges, effluent from coffee and tea factories, and other agricultural activities in the catchment area. This paper aims at assessing  the  level  of  pollution  due  to  these  activities.  Water  samples  were collected from seven sampling points during the dry season in July and short wet season in November and December and analysed in situ and at Jomo Kenyatta University  Environmental  laboratory  for  eight  parameters.  These  include  pH, temperature,  electrical  conductivity  (EC),  Turbidity,  Nitrogen,  Phosphorous, Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and dissolved oxygen (DO).The samples were collected at 15cm depth (to avoid floating materials) and geographical positioning system (GPS) device was used to spatially locate the sampling sites. Samples were taken from upstream and downstream of point and non‐ point sources of pollution. Results indicated that most physical parameters were within the WHO limits for drinking purpose. BOD5and EC levels increased from 12mg/l to 22mg/l and55µS/cm to 85µS/cm respectively but DO level decreased from 6.3mg/l to 3.4mg/l moving downstream in dry season. Turbidity was above the allowable limit in both seasons   Nutrient levels were within the limits and no phosphorus was detected. There is need for proper control of wastewater by various techniques, and preliminary treatment of waste discharges prior to effluent disposal. Care should be taken in application of inorganic fertilizers. Management of the watershed is also necessary so as to protect the river from the adverse impacts of agricultural activities and save it from further deterioration.