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Heavy Metals Inflow into Lake Muhazi, Rwanda

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dc.creator Nhapi, Innocent
dc.creator Wali, Umaru G.
dc.creator Usanzineza, Denise
dc.creator Banadda, Noble
dc.creator Kashaigili, Japhet
dc.creator Kimwaga, Richard
dc.creator Gumindoga, Webster
dc.creator Sendagi, S.
dc.date 2016-07-24T05:55:51Z
dc.date 2016-07-24T05:55:51Z
dc.date 2012-01
dc.date.accessioned 2018-03-27T08:41:16Z
dc.date.available 2018-03-27T08:41:16Z
dc.identifier Nhapi, I., Wali, U.G., Usanzineza, D., Banadda, N., Kashaigili, J.J., Kimwaga, R., Gumindoga, W. and Sendagi, S., 2012. Heavy Metals Inflow into Lake Muhazi, Rwanda. Open Environmental Engineering Journal, 5, pp.56-65.
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3412
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3412
dc.description Most tropical African lakes are facing pollution problems due to the rapid population growth and industrializa-tion in their riparian communities. Lake Muhazi in Rwanda is one of such lakes which has experienced a dramatic decrease in fish production since the eighties, with also reports of low water transparencies and high turbidities. The lakeshores are now being developed for ecotourism and this requires sound environmental management to make the planned activities viable. The purpose of this study was to assess heavy metal pollution in the tributary rivers of Lake Muhazi. The concentration of heavy metals in major tributaries was monitored for the period July to October 2007. The parameters studied are cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, zinc, pH and temperature. Fourteen sampling stations on the Inflow Rivers and the spillway were monitored fortnightly. The samples collected for heavy metal analysis were preserved and stored in cooler boxes and analyzed in the laboratory using Standard Methods. Temperature and pH were measured in the field using HACH field testing kits. The concentration (mean ± standard deviation) of Zn was found to be 0.040±0.103 mg/L, Cd 0.031±0.007 mg/L, Pb 0.487±0.452 mg/L, Fe 7.53±13.34 mg/L, Mn 1.01±1.31 mg/L, chromium 0 mg/L and copper 0 mg/L. The concentrations of measured parameters deviate much from the recommended ones thus posing serious problems to aquatic life. It has also been shown that the high metal concentration levels in Lake Muhazi are related to landuse activities in the catchment. It is thus recommended that farming practices and erosion be controlled in the catchment to contain pollutant discharges into the lake. Lead is the main anthropogenic pollutant which has been found in the watershed of Lake Muhazi.
dc.language en
dc.subject Heavy metal pollution
dc.subject Lake water quality
dc.subject Lake Muhazi
dc.subject Land use
dc.subject Equatorial Lakes
dc.subject Rwanda.
dc.title Heavy Metals Inflow into Lake Muhazi, Rwanda
dc.type Journal Article, Peer Reviewed


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