| dc.description.abstract | The ground waters of the area extending from the southern shores of Lake Bogoria to the northern shores of
Lake Baringo, within the floor of the Rift Valley Kenya have been examined in relation to fluoride
concentrations. The area is defined by co-ordinates 3So 4S' - 36° 20' E and 1° 00' - 0° IS' N, it covers
approximately 6000 km", Fluoride concentrations as high as SOppm had been reported in this area, resulting
in abandonment of some boreholes. Most members of the community suffer various effects of skeletal and
dental fluorosis.
Onehundred and twenty sampling sites were visited with one hundred of the boreholes being sampled, while
surface sources included samples from; Lakes Baringo and Bogoria, the main rivers Molo and Perkerra and
nine springs, seven of which are Lake Bogoria springs. The ion selective electrode technique was used to
analyze for fluoride concentration. Other chemical constituencies analyzed included Mg, Ca, and HC03 for
correlation purposes. PCW ATEQ was used to analyze the chemical data to find out the main minerals
comprised in these rocks that maybe responsible for the fluoride ions. These minerals include biotite,
phlogopite, fluorspar, fluoroapaptite, etc mainly found in weathered volcanic and sedimentary rocks in this
area.
Recharge of the groundwater bodies is mostly by lateral ground water flow from the Tugen hills where
rainfall is higher than the lowland plains. This was established from the piezometric map drawn and the
three dimension view of the piezometric levels. Maps showing the distribution of the fluoride ions in the
ground water were also drawn using ArcView 3.2 and Surfer. The results showed that the ions were mainly
concentrated within the central part of the study area, which lies on through of the rift valley. The
concentrations were mainly controlled by geology.
A correlation of the fluoride concentration to that of Mg2+,Ca2+and HC03- showed fluoride had negative
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linear relationship with Mg2+,and Ca2+ ions, however it has a general positive linear relationship with HC03-
The pH of most waters sampled ranged from 7-10 on the pH scale. This means that waters with high
concentrations of Mg2+,Ca2+will generally have low concentrations of fluoride ions. The results of statistical
analysis also indicate that Na+ has the highest mean for cat ions and HC03- has the highest mean for anions
andthat these ions have a very high positive correlation with fluoride ions.
With the water in this area having concentrations of fluoride that exceed the set standard of l.Sppm, the
prevalence of skeletal and dental fluorosis was evident. Due the low social economic standards of the
community Bonechar defluoridation method was adopted. The efficacy of this technique rated at ninety
percent. The findings in study will facilitate future planning and development of groundwater resource in
tl\is area by the various stake holders. | en |
