Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology

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Browsing Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology by Author "George Tinda Musinguzi"

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    Evaluation of Seasonal Variability in Physicochemical Water Quality Parameters of Lake Nkugute, Uganda
    (Uganda Christian University, 2024-09-09) George Tinda Musinguzi
    This study assessed the seasonal variability in water quality of Lake Nkugute in Rubirizi District, Uganda. It gives an insight of the seasonal variability of some physico-chemical parameters of the lake due to its importance in water abstraction for Bunyaruguru Gravity Flow Scheme that supplies potable water to the vast part of Rubirizi District. The study adopted a quantitative research design. It was conducted between August, 2018 and January 2019. Seven sampling points (S1-S7) were used with measurements taken at 0m, 5m, 10m 15m and 20m. The parameters measured included pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, Colour and Total Suspended solids (TSS). Primary data was obtained through in-situ and laboratory measurements using field and laboratory equipment, whereas secondary data was obtained through document review. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel Version 2013 and SPSS 16.0. Across different depths, water temperature was highest at 0.0 m and lowest at 20 m (ranged from 26.5±1.1 ºC to 22.5±1.1 ºC), at all stations with significant differences (p<0.05) in mean water temperature between the stations and depths in both wet and dry seasons. The mean concentration of DO was highest at the surface (0m) ranging between 6±2.9 mg/L at S1 and 7±2.9 mg/L at S2 and relatively lower than a typical flowing river due to stagnant water at the reservoir. Comparing by depths, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the total suspended solids at all stations, TSS being lower at the subsurface of the water since the solids settle towards the bottom of the lake with wet spell presenting 2.9±1mg/L. The TDS concentration was observed to increase with depth and the variation of concentration of TDS for the whole sampling period was significant (p<0.05). The pH of Lake Nkugute is relatively consistent between the dry season and wet season with mean pH of 7.75±0.20. The overall mean value of EC across all depth was 114.8±8.52 μS/cm and 107.4±8.52 μS/cm in the wet and dry season respectively. The variation of turbidity with season was not significantly different (P>0.05) with an overall mean of 3.1±0.1NTU. Stations S4 and S5 both at 20 m depth exhibited high average colour levels of mean of 26.68 ± 10.61PtCo and comparing by depths, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the colour of Lake Nkugute in all stations. Generally, the values of water quality parameters such as pH, conductivity, turbidity, TDS, and TSS at the different stations on Lake Nkugute were found to be within the recommended limits of World Health Organization and National Drinking Water Quality Standards. Researchers should take interest in the biological parameters of the same study area, since this study considered only physicochemical parameters.