The impact of urban land use practices on water quality in river Mpanga in fort-portal Municipality, Kabarole District

Abstract

This study was conducted in Fort-Portal Municipality, Kabarole District in 2010/2013. Major aims were: identifying and mapping the different land use practices along Mpanga River in Fort-Portal Municipality; to find out the relationships between the different land use practices and the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of the water in River Mpanga in Fort-Portal Municipality in relation to land uses and to compare the quality of water in the river at inflow and outflow. Laboratory analysis of samples of river water taken on the basis of different land uses were done to determine the physical characteristics (parameters included; Total dissolve solids, Total suspended solids and Electrical conductivity). Chemical characteristics (parameters included; Bio-chemical oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand, Total Phosphate, pH, and Nitrate). Biological characteristics included; fecal coli form in order to ascertain the degree of the impact of urban land use practices on the quality of water in the river at inflow, within urban center and at outflow. Emphasis was also put to find out whether land uses within urban areas continued to affect water quality in the river when the water had left the Municipality. Survey design and purposive sampling technique were used. Methods of data collection were direct and critical field observations and observation of analysis of samples of water in the Laboratory. Statistical method of data analysis was standard deviation. Mean results got were presented in constructed tables for each land use and mean plot graphs of the reach which portrayed changes in the quality of water. Conclusively, the land uses in Fort-Portal Municipality have not impacted so much on the river water of Mpanga because most of their average values are below the National Standards with exception of Municipal abattoir where its TP is 18.37 mg/l, COD is 199.50mg/l and Animal grazing farm had a TP average value of 12.34mg/l all are above the National Standards for effluents discharge in water body. Other land use practices were environmentally friendly. The average values of all the parameters at inflow and outflow presents that there is no pollution. All the urban land uses are recommended along Mpanga River within the Municipality with the exception of animal grazing farm and Municipal abattoir because of their high TP, TSS arid COD. Continuous monitoring of water quality at Municipal abattoir by NWSC is required by use of waste Treatment Plant before discharged in the environment. Animal grazing farm need to be far away from the river in order to avoid pollution of river water by their wastes.