Assessment of industrial water pollution in Nakawa-Ntinda streams and Kinawataka wetland

Abstract

Industrial water pollution is a major threat to the ecological integrity and well-being of wetlands, especially in urban areas. Kinawataka wetland is one of the largest wetlands in Kampala, Uganda, that receives and purifies domestic and industrial wastewater from various sources before discharging it into Lake Victoria. However, the wetland is facing severe degradation due to encroachment, overexploitation, and pollution. This research aimed to assessing the environmental impacts of industrial water pollution on the water quality and biodiversity of the Kinawataka wetland. The research involved the use of both in situ and laboratory methods to sample and test different water parameters, such as pH, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, color, electrical conductivity, temperature and heavy metals (lead), from different sampling points along the streams and in Kinawataka wetland. Water samples were taken from points with active industrial activities and from Kinawataka wetland. The samples were collected between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in March 2024. In-situ analysis involved investigation of physical and chemical quality using an Aqua Probe multiparameter meter and a (pH/EC/TDS) meter. Laboratory analysis involved use of standard methods like titrimetric measures and machines to determine chemical parameters within the water samples. The data was analysed using the SPSS IBM package. The water samples at selected points were analysed for pH (ranged from 3.76±0.25 to 12.41±4.68), EC (ranged from 224.5±22.23 to 3461.75±73.2 µScm-1), turbidity (ranged from 24.98±2.84 to 784.15±22.83 NTU), colour (ranged from 100±5.69 to 3887.85±49.16 TCU), BOD (ranged from 30.23±5.88 to 305.55±11.44 mg/l), COD (ranged from 75±4.39 to 1165.75±62.60 mg/l), Pb (ranged from 0.029±0.03 to 0.28±0.03 mg/l), TDS (ranged from 77.25±0.5.59 to 107.25±9.98 mg/l) and temperature (ranged from 22.48±0.39 to 28.38±0.69). These were compared with the standards set by NEMA for waste water. It was found that there is a high degree of pollution in the stream and recommendations on reduction of pollution in the streams were mad