3 – Rivers in Africa Are in Jeopardy

Abstract

Rivers are major sources of water in Africa. Increasing population and anthropogenic activities related to agriculture, industry and waste management make river-water pollution acute and unsafe for human consumption. Climate variability and change complicate the quality and quantity of water in many parts of the continent. The combined effect of these natural and human activities enhance water scarcity and water-borne disease loads, thus making water-related disease a major cause for human morbidity and fatality. Examples of chemical pollution of several rivers in Kenya are given. The sources of pollutants are local industries and agriculture; others are distributed by air-mass circulation and deposited in water masses through dry and wet deposition.