Effects of Wastewater Discharge on Fresh Water Quality in Dar es Salaam: A Case of Msimbazi River

Ahmad, Amisa Mwemezi (2015) Effects of Wastewater Discharge on Fresh Water Quality in Dar es Salaam: A Case of Msimbazi River. Masters thesis, The Open University Of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of waste water discharge on the fresh water quality for Msimbazi river in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. This river has heavily polluted due to effluents from domestic usage, industries and other human activities. The problems associated with discharging waste water into the river include eutrophication, disease eruption due to increase of various pathogens, environmental pollution and death of animals due to chemicals found in the river. Samples were collected between the periods of October to November 2014 to determine the different parameters. Laboratory analyses were performed in Ubungo Maji. Statistical analysis show that several parameters are significantly higher (p<0.01) that is permissible levels: colour (478.25, p=0.0004), DO (p=0.004), turbidity (79.25NTU, p=0.007), EC (13975ms/cm, p= 0.0009), nitrate (23mg/l, p=0.017 ), BOD (103.17mg/l. p=0.015), TDS (7895.13,mg/l, p=0.0012) COD (203.34mg/l, p=0.0114) and Sulphate (583.68mg/l p=0.042). However pH (98.8, p=0.898), temperature (24.430C, p=0.84), phosphate (0.627mg/l, p=0.505) were within the required discharge limit. Salender Bridge showed higher value of waste water pollution than Vingunguti. Higher value of pollution could be attributed with effluents discharge from domestic and industrial activities. From this study it can be concluded that waste water treatment mismanagement of industrial wastes and lack of environmental education are the main factors contribute to the effluent pollution in the study area. Further research is recommended on the determination of other parameters which were not covered in the study in different parts of Msimbazi river particularly heavy metals and environmental interaction.

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