Water Quality Assessment and Application of the Hydrochemistry Specific Ion Ratios at Lake Nyamagoma

Abstract

Attempts have been made to investigate the water quality aspects at 8 sampling sites in Lake Nyamagoma by applying the hydrochemistry specific ion ratios during both wet and dry seasons. Standard methods and experimental procedures were acquired to analyze the filtered water samples in the laboratory using the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) machine for chemical determination. Data from the study depict significant variations in the water quality parameters across the two seasons amongst the sampling sites. This phenomenon hampers the water quality in the lake. Various processes are inferred as driving forces including dissolution, precipitation, decomposition, nitrification, denitrification, fixation, evaporation-crystallization, cation exchange, adsorption, photosynthesis and dilution effect. The geology of the area also seems to favor the observed trends. It is recommended that a long term water quality assessment be acquired to sustainably address the environmental management aspects of the Lake Nyamagoma within the Malagarasi Wetland Ecosystem.

Keywords: Water quality, hydrochemistry, specific ion ratio, processes, man-made activities, Lake Nyamagoma.