Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa

Ebenezer Ashun; Naa Dedei Tagoe

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa

Ebenezer Ashun

, Naa Dedei Tagoe^*

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 12, Issue 4)

Received: 26 June 2024 Accepted: 10 July 2024 Published: 23 July 2024

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Abstract

Rapid urbanization and population growth in the upper Athi River basin in Kenya have increased the strain on the sub catchments water supply and sanitation situation. Due to increasing demand, inadequate supply of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities, people in the sub-catchment are increasingly reliant on groundwater as a primary or supplementary water source. However, the use of on-site wastewater systems and agricultural pollution, mainly from runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and faeces, pose a threat to groundwater in the sub catchment. Subsequently, the current study was conducted in the Thiririka sub catchment, Kiambu County, Kenya, to determine the safety of groundwater sources and to examine the factors influencing groundwater quality in the catchment area. This study assessed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of groundwater in the Upper Athi River basin of Kenya between April and June 2022. Twenty variables were analyzed and compared with water quality standards to determine hydro chemical characteristics, evidence of contamination, and suitability of groundwater. Shallow wells (SW) had higher concentrations of major ions and key parameters than boreholes (BH), such as alkalinity (7%), turbidity (96%), nitrates (92%), sulfates (48%), phosphates (93%), chlorides (77%), potassium (84%), sodium (30%) and fecal coliforms (99%) significant at p < 0.01. Concentrations of eleven water quality variables however were comparable in both systems. Farming, animal husbandry, and pit latrines were negatively but significantly correlated with the water quality of SW explaining substantial amounts of variation (≤ 45%) in concentrations of water quality variables. Ionic and coliform levels increased with decreasing distance and vice versa. IDW interpolation maps were generated in ArcGIS software to determine the spatial variability of groundwater quality in the basin. Anthropogenic activities such as pit latrines and animal husbandry impaired the quality of groundwater which in most cases was not potable.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
Page(s)	58-73
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Boreholes, Fecal Coliforms, IDW Interpolation, Groundwater Quality, Shallow Well, Upper Athi River Basin

References

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Ashun, E., Tagoe, N. D. (2024). Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 12(4), 58-73. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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Ashun, E.; Tagoe, N. D. Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2024, 12(4), 58-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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Ashun E, Tagoe ND. Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2024;12(4):58-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11,
  author = {Ebenezer Ashun and Naa Dedei Tagoe},
  title = {Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa
},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {12},
  number = {4},
  pages = {58-73},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20241204.11},
  abstract = {Rapid urbanization and population growth in the upper Athi River basin in Kenya have increased the strain on the sub catchments water supply and sanitation situation. Due to increasing demand, inadequate supply of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities, people in the sub-catchment are increasingly reliant on groundwater as a primary or supplementary water source. However, the use of on-site wastewater systems and agricultural pollution, mainly from runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and faeces, pose a threat to groundwater in the sub catchment. Subsequently, the current study was conducted in the Thiririka sub catchment, Kiambu County, Kenya, to determine the safety of groundwater sources and to examine the factors influencing groundwater quality in the catchment area. This study assessed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of groundwater in the Upper Athi River basin of Kenya between April and June 2022. Twenty variables were analyzed and compared with water quality standards to determine hydro chemical characteristics, evidence of contamination, and suitability of groundwater. Shallow wells (SW) had higher concentrations of major ions and key parameters than boreholes (BH), such as alkalinity (7%), turbidity (96%), nitrates (92%), sulfates (48%), phosphates (93%), chlorides (77%), potassium (84%), sodium (30%) and fecal coliforms (99%) significant at p < 0.01. Concentrations of eleven water quality variables however were comparable in both systems. Farming, animal husbandry, and pit latrines were negatively but significantly correlated with the water quality of SW explaining substantial amounts of variation (≤ 45%) in concentrations of water quality variables. Ionic and coliform levels increased with decreasing distance and vice versa. IDW interpolation maps were generated in ArcGIS software to determine the spatial variability of groundwater quality in the basin. Anthropogenic activities such as pit latrines and animal husbandry impaired the quality of groundwater which in most cases was not potable.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa

AU  - Ebenezer Ashun
AU  - Naa Dedei Tagoe
Y1  - 2024/07/23
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 58
EP  - 73
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
AB  - Rapid urbanization and population growth in the upper Athi River basin in Kenya have increased the strain on the sub catchments water supply and sanitation situation. Due to increasing demand, inadequate supply of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities, people in the sub-catchment are increasingly reliant on groundwater as a primary or supplementary water source. However, the use of on-site wastewater systems and agricultural pollution, mainly from runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and faeces, pose a threat to groundwater in the sub catchment. Subsequently, the current study was conducted in the Thiririka sub catchment, Kiambu County, Kenya, to determine the safety of groundwater sources and to examine the factors influencing groundwater quality in the catchment area. This study assessed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of groundwater in the Upper Athi River basin of Kenya between April and June 2022. Twenty variables were analyzed and compared with water quality standards to determine hydro chemical characteristics, evidence of contamination, and suitability of groundwater. Shallow wells (SW) had higher concentrations of major ions and key parameters than boreholes (BH), such as alkalinity (7%), turbidity (96%), nitrates (92%), sulfates (48%), phosphates (93%), chlorides (77%), potassium (84%), sodium (30%) and fecal coliforms (99%) significant at p < 0.01. Concentrations of eleven water quality variables however were comparable in both systems. Farming, animal husbandry, and pit latrines were negatively but significantly correlated with the water quality of SW explaining substantial amounts of variation (≤ 45%) in concentrations of water quality variables. Ionic and coliform levels increased with decreasing distance and vice versa. IDW interpolation maps were generated in ArcGIS software to determine the spatial variability of groundwater quality in the basin. Anthropogenic activities such as pit latrines and animal husbandry impaired the quality of groundwater which in most cases was not potable.

VL  - 12
IS  - 4
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Ebenezer Ashun

Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6379-9118
Naa Dedei Tagoe

Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-1121

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Ashun, E., Tagoe, N. D. (2024). Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 12(4), 58-73. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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Ashun, E.; Tagoe, N. D. Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2024, 12(4), 58-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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AMA Style

Ashun E, Tagoe ND. Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2024;12(4):58-73. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11,
  author = {Ebenezer Ashun and Naa Dedei Tagoe},
  title = {Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa
},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {12},
  number = {4},
  pages = {58-73},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20241204.11},
  abstract = {Rapid urbanization and population growth in the upper Athi River basin in Kenya have increased the strain on the sub catchments water supply and sanitation situation. Due to increasing demand, inadequate supply of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities, people in the sub-catchment are increasingly reliant on groundwater as a primary or supplementary water source. However, the use of on-site wastewater systems and agricultural pollution, mainly from runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and faeces, pose a threat to groundwater in the sub catchment. Subsequently, the current study was conducted in the Thiririka sub catchment, Kiambu County, Kenya, to determine the safety of groundwater sources and to examine the factors influencing groundwater quality in the catchment area. This study assessed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of groundwater in the Upper Athi River basin of Kenya between April and June 2022. Twenty variables were analyzed and compared with water quality standards to determine hydro chemical characteristics, evidence of contamination, and suitability of groundwater. Shallow wells (SW) had higher concentrations of major ions and key parameters than boreholes (BH), such as alkalinity (7%), turbidity (96%), nitrates (92%), sulfates (48%), phosphates (93%), chlorides (77%), potassium (84%), sodium (30%) and fecal coliforms (99%) significant at p < 0.01. Concentrations of eleven water quality variables however were comparable in both systems. Farming, animal husbandry, and pit latrines were negatively but significantly correlated with the water quality of SW explaining substantial amounts of variation (≤ 45%) in concentrations of water quality variables. Ionic and coliform levels increased with decreasing distance and vice versa. IDW interpolation maps were generated in ArcGIS software to determine the spatial variability of groundwater quality in the basin. Anthropogenic activities such as pit latrines and animal husbandry impaired the quality of groundwater which in most cases was not potable.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Anthropogenic Drivers of Spatial Trends in Groundwater Quality in the Upper Athi River Basin of Kenya, East Africa

AU  - Ebenezer Ashun
AU  - Naa Dedei Tagoe
Y1  - 2024/07/23
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 58
EP  - 73
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20241204.11
AB  - Rapid urbanization and population growth in the upper Athi River basin in Kenya have increased the strain on the sub catchments water supply and sanitation situation. Due to increasing demand, inadequate supply of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities, people in the sub-catchment are increasingly reliant on groundwater as a primary or supplementary water source. However, the use of on-site wastewater systems and agricultural pollution, mainly from runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and faeces, pose a threat to groundwater in the sub catchment. Subsequently, the current study was conducted in the Thiririka sub catchment, Kiambu County, Kenya, to determine the safety of groundwater sources and to examine the factors influencing groundwater quality in the catchment area. This study assessed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of groundwater in the Upper Athi River basin of Kenya between April and June 2022. Twenty variables were analyzed and compared with water quality standards to determine hydro chemical characteristics, evidence of contamination, and suitability of groundwater. Shallow wells (SW) had higher concentrations of major ions and key parameters than boreholes (BH), such as alkalinity (7%), turbidity (96%), nitrates (92%), sulfates (48%), phosphates (93%), chlorides (77%), potassium (84%), sodium (30%) and fecal coliforms (99%) significant at p < 0.01. Concentrations of eleven water quality variables however were comparable in both systems. Farming, animal husbandry, and pit latrines were negatively but significantly correlated with the water quality of SW explaining substantial amounts of variation (≤ 45%) in concentrations of water quality variables. Ionic and coliform levels increased with decreasing distance and vice versa. IDW interpolation maps were generated in ArcGIS software to determine the spatial variability of groundwater quality in the basin. Anthropogenic activities such as pit latrines and animal husbandry impaired the quality of groundwater which in most cases was not potable.

VL  - 12
IS  - 4
ER  -

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