Assessment of heavy metal contamination in urban tributaries draining into Lake Victoria at Musoma and Tarime Towns, Tanzania
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Date
2025-11-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Water Institute
Abstract
Water contamination by heavy metals poses serious environmental and public health threats, particularly in urban and
agricultural regions where human activities intensify pollution. This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal
contamination in urban tributaries along Musoma and Tarime towns to safeguard aquatic ecology and public health. Seventy-
eight water samples were collected from twenty-six strategically selected sites across the two urban areas. Physicochemical
parameters (pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, and temperature) were analyzed on-site using the potentiometric method, while heavy
metals (Hg, As, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) were determined using ICP–OES. Results showed wide spatial variations with pH
(7.3–8.94), EC (94–3900 μS/cm), TDS (56–2360 mg/L), turbidity (9.4–2098 NTU), and temperature (22.4–27.8 °C). Metal
concentrations ranged from Pb (0.005–0.082 mg/L), Cd (0.002–0.019 mg/L), Cr (0.004–0.021 mg/L), As (0.0003–0.001
mg/L), Cu (0.006–0.118 mg/L), Zn (0.032–0.264 mg/L), and Hg (0.0001–0.0004 mg/L). Pb and Cd Concentrations exceeded
WHO drinking water limits, suggesting contamination from mining and domestic discharges. Overall, findings reveal
moderate but spatially variable contamination, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring, stricter pollution control,
effective remediation to protect water quality in the Lake Victoria Basin.
Description
Journal of Water Resources, Engineering, Management and Policy, pp. 73-89
Keywords
Heavy metals, Lake Victoria Basin, Musoma, Tarime, Tributaries, Water quality
Citation
DOI:https:doi.org/10.56542/wi.jwempo.v2.i2.a5.2025