Assessment of Physico-chemical Properties of Kasarani Section of River Thome, Nairobi

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of a study done in River Thome which is located in Nairobi county in Kenya. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the river water meets the set quality standards for surface water and irrigation water. It was established that the river water has been negatively impacted by wastewater from various human activities along the river stretch studied. The study analyzed levels of selected physico- chemical properties of Kasarani stretch of River Thome. Water samples were collected for laboratory analysis from five different stations. Mean level ranges of the physico-chemical properties were as follows: Water temperature, 18.1-27.3°C pH, 6.6-8.1; dissolved oxygen (DO), 0-10.8 mg/L; total alkalinity, 25-298.0 CaCO3 mg/L; biological oxygen demand (BOD), 0.1-118.9 mg O2 /L, and electrical conductivity, 160.0-496.0 μS/cm. Based on the levels of measurements such as the BOD concentration and DO levels, the river water is unfit for drinking, watering animals and irrigation of crops eaten raw. The results indicate that the water of a greater stretch of Thome River is polluted with domestic wastewater, agricultural and/ or surface run off.