A systematic study has been carried out to assess the water quality in and around Lake Edward basin in D.R. Congo Side. Fifty four water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, including: temperature, discharge, pH, electrical conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, COD, BOD, Carbonate, Bicarbonate, alkalinity, total hardness, turbidity, calcium hardness, calcium, magnesium hardness, magnesium, total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrate, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, chloride, sulphate and total suspended solids. For bacteriological parameters: fecal bacteria, enterococcus bacteria, vibrio and salmonella shigella bacteria were considered. For macroinvertebrates assemblages all taxa using standards methods for each parameter. A comparison of data from dry (June to August) and wet (September to May) season was done in and around Lake Eduard watershed. The analytical data of various physicochemical parameters indicates that water characteristics in the watershed were in the limit of WHO standards for drinking water and aquatic life. Bacteriological water quality of some ecosystems in the watershed revealed the infestation of water with bacteria which make the water unusable for drinking by the surrounding population near and within Lake Eduard watershed. Longtime period sampling in the watershed is needed to understand the variation and composition of water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrate environment of the watershed.
KeywordsWater QualityLake EduardGreater VirungaLandscapeD. R. Congo
Dodson, S.I. (2005) Introduction to Limnology. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 400 p.
Patil, P.N., Sawant, D.V. and Deshmukh, R.N. (2012) Physico-Chemical Parameters for Testing of Water—A Review. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3, 1194-1207.
Parikh, P. (2015) Status of Fluoride Contamination in Soil, Water and Vegetation at Kadipani Fluorspar Mine. International Journal of Allied Practice, Research and Review, 2, 100-105.
Shrivastava, A., Tandon, S.A. and Kumar, R. (2015) Water Quality Management Plan for Patalganga River for Drinking Purpose and Human Health Safety. International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 3, 71-87. https://doi.org/10.12983/ijsres-2015-p0071-0087
Gorde, S.P. and Jadhav, M.V. (2013) Assessment of Water Quality Parameters: A Review. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, 3, 2029-2035.
Adeyeye, E.I. (1994) Determination of Heavy Metals in Illisha africana, Associated Water, Soil Sediments from Some Fish Ponds. International Journal of Environmental Study, 45, 231-240. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207239408710898
Reda, A.H. (2016) Physico-Chemical Analysis of Drinking Water Quality of Arbaminch Town. Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicology, 6, 356.
Kulkarni, G.J. (1997) Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering. 10th Edition, Farooq Kitabs Ghar, Karachi, 497.
Milkiyas, T., Mulugeta, K. and Bayeh, A. (2011) Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Drinking Water and Hygiene-Sanitation Practices of the Consumers in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 21, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v21i1.69040
Ellis, K.V. (1989) Surface Water Pollution and Its Control. Macmillan Press Ltd., Basingstoke and London.
Adefemi, S.O. and Awokunmi, E.E. (2010) Determination of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Heavy Metals in Water Samples from Itaogbolu Area of Ondo-State, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4, 145-148. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST09.133
WHO (2004) Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. World Health Organization, Geneva.
Mbalassa, M., Bagalwa, M., Nshombo, M. and Kateyo, M. (2014) Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters in Relation with Fish Ecology in Ishasha River and Lake Edward, Albertine Rift Valley, East Africa. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 3, 230-244.
Kilham, P. (1984) Sulfate in African Inland Waters: Sulfate to Chloride Ratios. Verhandlungen der international Vereinigung fur Limnology, 22, 296-302. https://doi.org/10.1080/03680770.1983.11897306
Lehman, J.T. (2002) Application of Satellite AVHRR to Water Balance, Mixing Dynamics, and the Chemistry of Lake Edward, East Africa. In: The East African Great Lakes: Limnology, Palaeolimnology and Biodiversity, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 235-260. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48201-0_8
Talling, J.F. and Talling, I.B. (1965) The Chemical Composition of African Lake Waters. Hydrobiologia, 50, 421-463. https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19650500307
Bagalwa, M., Majaliwa, J.G.M., Mushagalusa, N. and Karume, K. (2013) Estimation of Transported Pollutant Load from Small Urban Kahuwa River Micro-Catchment in Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Environment Science and Engineering B, 2, 460-472.
Russell, J.M. and Johnson, T.C. (2006) The Water Balance and Stable Isotope Hydrology of Lake Edward, Uganda-Congo. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 32, 77-90. https://doi.org/10.3394/0380-1330(2006)32[77:TWBASI]2.0.CO;2
Beadle, L.C. (1981) The Inland Waters of Tropical Africa: An Introduction to Tropical Limnology. Second Edition, Longman Inc., New York.
Damas, H. (1937) Exploration du Parc National Albert. Mission H. Damas (1935-1936) Fascicule 1. Recherches Hydrobiologiques dans les Lacs Kivu, Edward et Ndalaga.
Harrelson, C.C., Rawlins, C.L. and Potyondy, J.P. (1994) Stream Channel Reference Sites: An Illustrated Guide to Field Technique. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-245. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, 61 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/RM-GTR-245
Bartram, J. and Balance, R. (1996) Water Quality Monitoring: A Practical Guide to the Design of Freshwater Quality Studies and Monitoring Programmes. Chapman & Hall, London.
Michaud, J.P. and Wierenga, M. (2005) Estimating Discharge and Stream Flows. A Guide for Sand and Gravel Operators. Ecology Publication Number 05-10-070, 37 p.
Golterman, H.L., Clymo, R.S. and Ohnstad, M.A.M. (1978) Methods for Physical and Chemical Analysis of Fresh Waters. Blackel Scientific Publication, London, 213 p.
APHA (American Public Health Association) (1989) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, USA, 18nd Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington DC.
Wetzel, R.G. and Likens, G.E. (2000) Limnological Analysis. Springer, Berlin, 429 p. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3250-4
Olapande, O.J. and Omitoyin, B.O. (2012) Anthropogenic Pollution Impact on Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Lake Kivu, Rwanda. Scholarly Peer Reviewed, 12, 6517-6536.
Olapande, O.J. (2011) Trace Metal Pollution and Physicochemical Characteristics of Lake Kivu, Rwanda. Global Journal of Environmental Research, 5, 56-64.
UNECE (1994) Standard Statistical Classification of Surface Freshwater Quality for the Maintenance of Aquatic Life. In: Readings in International Environment Statistics, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations, New York and Geneva, 53-64.
FEPA (1991) Guidelines and Standards for Environmental Pollution Control in Nigeria, Federal Environmental Protection Agency Regulation 1991 on Pollution Abatement in Industries and Facilities Generated Wastes. 78, 42, 38 p.
WHO (1993) Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. Second Edition, Volume 1 Recommendations. World Health Organization, Geneva, 11 p.
ISO (1986) Water Quality-Determination of Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium and Lead-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Methods. In: International Standard, Vol. 1986, International Organisation of Standardisation, Geneva, 11.
ISO (2012) Water Quality—Determination of Mercury—Method Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) with and without Enrichment. In: International Standard, Vol. 2012, International Organisation of Standardisation, Geneva, 15.
ISO (2012) Water Quality—Determination of Iron—Spectrometric Method Using 1,10-Phenanthroline. In: International Standard, International Organisation of Standardisation, Geneva, 4.
SCA (Standing Committee of Analysts) (2002) The Microbiology of Drinking Water. Part 1—Water Quality and Public Health. Methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials. Environment Agency, Bristol.
Olivier, L. and Scheiderman, M. (1956) Method for Estimation of the Density of Aquatic Snail Population. Experimental Parasitology, 5, 109-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4894(56)90008-X
Needham, J.G. and Needham, P.R. (1962) A Guide to the Study of Freshwater Biology. Holden Day, Inc., San Francisco.
Micha, J.C. and Moiset, J.L. (1982) Evaluation biologique de la pollution de ruisseaux et rivières par les macroinvertébrés aquatiques. Probio Revue, 5, 142 p.
Karume, K., Bagalwa, M., Yalire, M., Kazi, K., Bagula, E.M., Bitariho, R., Nahayo, D., Kasangaki, A. and Byamukama, J. (2016) Hydrological Systems in the Greater Virunga Landscape: Water Quality around Mikeno Sector. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 8, 382-396. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2016.83032
Waziri, M. and Ogugbuaja, V.O. (2010) Interrelationships between Physicochemical Water Pollution Indicators: A Case Study of River Yobe-Nigeria. American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1, 76-80.
Brekke, L.D., Kiang, J.E., Olsen, J.R., Pulwarty, R.S., Raff, D.A., Turnipseed, D.P., Webb, R.S. and White, K.D. (2009) Climate Change and Water Resources Management—A Federal Perspective. USA Geological Survey Circular 1331, 65 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331 https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1331
Bagalwa, M., Yalire, M., Balole, E. and Karume, K. (2014) A Preliminary Assessment of Physico Chemical and Bacteriological Characteristics of Lake Edward and Majors Tributaries Rivers, Democratic Republic of Congo. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences, 2, 236-245.
Aghui, N. and Biémi, J. (1984) Geology and Hydrogeology of Groundwater in the Region of Abidjan and Contamination Risks. Annals of the National University of Côte d’Ivoire Series C, 20, 331-347.
Loko, S., Ahoussi, K.E., Koffi, Y.B., Kouassi, A.M. and Biémi, J. (2013) Anthropogenic Activities and the Degradation of the Environmental Quality in Poor Neighborhoods of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: Abia Koumassi Village. Journal of Environmental Protection, 4, 1099-1107. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2013.410126
Best, G.A., Bogacka, T. and Niemirycz, E. (1998) International River Water Quality: Pollution and Restoration. Taylor and Francis, London, 310.
Jain, A.K. (2009) River Pollution. APH Publishing, New Delhi, 330.
WHO (2004) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality: Supporting Documentation to Guidelines. 3rd Edition, 2552 p.
Brown, S.D. (1994) Freshwater Snails of Africa and Their Medical Importance. Taylor and Francis, London, 487 p.
Bagalwa, M. and Baluku, B. (1997) Distribution des mollusques hôtes intermédiaires des schistosomoses humains à Katana, Sud-Kivu, Est du Zaïre. Médecine Tropicale, 57, 369-372.