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Article Information:
Water Quality Assessment of Various Sources in Rural Areas in the Lowveld Region of Swaziland
Khanyisile Gamedze, Daniel Silas Tevera and Amos Olutola Fadiran
Corresponding Author: Daniel Tevera
Submitted: October 23, 2011
Accepted: November 15, 2011
Published: March 20, 2012 |
Abstract:
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This study assesses water quality levels of sources used by rural communities in the lowveld region
of Swaziland. The water quality assessments are based on household perceptions about water quality and
laboratory water quality analyses which were carried out on selected water quality parameters. A total of 180
household heads were interviewed and in addition water samples from 13 locations were analysed. The
parameters considered were physical factors including pH, colour, taste and odour. Results of pH tests indicated
that 23.1% of the water sources were acidic, 7.7% were neutral and 69.2% were alkaline. Water collected from
the unprotected wells tested acidic, had a pH of 5.96, implying that it is corrosive and might present health risks
to humans and livestock. Sources with highly alkaline water were the borehole, spring, hot spring standpipes,
and rivers. Survey findings show that colour, taste, smell and turbidity are the quality parameters mostly used
by rural households to determine water suitability for domestic use. Most ground water sources were found to
have saline water due to low ground water recharge in the area. Water quality remains a sustainable
development challenge in the rural areas of Swaziland.
Key words: Domestic water, Swaziland, turbidity, water quality, , ,
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Cite this Reference:
Khanyisile Gamedze, Daniel Silas Tevera and Amos Olutola Fadiran, . Water Quality Assessment of Various Sources in Rural Areas in the Lowveld Region of Swaziland. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, (2): 99-102.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-3246
ISSN (Print): 2041-3238 |
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