Assessment of the impact of sand mining on water quality in river Enyau in Arua district.

Abstract

Sand mining is a common activity in River Enyau in Arua District, Uganda, driven by the high demand for sand for the construction industry. However, the impact of sand mining on water quality is not clearly understood. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the major land use activities along River Enyau, 2) assess the water quality upstream and downstream of sand mining area, in terms of physio-chemical characteristics pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and total suspended solids, and, 3) investigate causes of sand mining in River Enyau. The study adopted purposive sampling technique where 115 households were sampled. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews carried out. Analysis was done using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was done to examine the research objectives. From the findings, the major economic activities along river Enyau included agriculture (39.1%), grazing (21.7%), and human settlements with the causes of sand mining being economic incentives, lack of regulatory enforcement, and limited alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities. The observed variations in pH levels, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and total suspended solids downstream indicate alterations in the river's physio-chemical characteristics due to sand mining activities. The study thus recommended that, the government should enforce existing regulations and introduce new ones if necessary to regulate sand mining activities in River Enyau, provide alternative sources of income to communities that rely on sand mining for their livelihoods, and educate the communities about the negative impact of sand mining on water quality. The study concluded that, Water quality is continuously at a risk of pollution due to the rampant levels of sand mining caused by high demands for construction by the increasing population of people living along and far away from the river.