The effects of industrial and domestic effluents on the quality of the receiving waters of Nairobi,ngong' and ruiruaka rivers.

Abstract

The effect of various pollutants on the quality of the major river streams passing through Nairobi Province namely Nairobi, Ngong' and Ruiruaka rivers is studied. The investigations have been carried out over a period of one year (Nov. 1985 to Nov. 1986) c011ecting water samp1es from the river streams at different identified points at regular monthly intervals. To assess and characterise the qua1ity of the river waters, the f0110wing parameters were monitored in the water samp1e:- (a) Temperature (b) Hydrogen-ion concentration (c) Conductivity (d) Biochemical oxygen demand (e) Chemical oxygen demand (f) Dissolved solids (g) Suspended solids (h) Chlorides (i) Nitrates (j) Total phosphates In addition to the above parameters the profile of the various elements present in the aquatic sample was monitored with special attention to the presence of toxic elements using X-ray fluorescence. The type of pollutant and reaction of pollutions in all the three river streams were identified...