Assessment of heavy metal contamination in urban tributaries draining into Lake Victoria at Musoma and Tarime Towns, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Chugu Emmanuel Efrass | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nyangi Magori Jackson | |
| dc.contributor.author | Lalika Makarius Christian | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-02-02T08:35:42Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-02-02T08:35:42Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-11-20 | |
| dc.description | Journal of Water Resources, Engineering, Management and Policy, pp. 73-89 | |
| dc.description.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. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The present study was supported by the Water Institute and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Under Project; Safeguard Water Security Towards Sustainable Development Goals in Aquatic Ecosystems) | |
| dc.identifier.citation | DOI:https:doi.org/10.56542/wi.jwempo.v2.i2.a5.2025 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7272 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Water Institute | |
| dc.subject | Heavy metals | |
| dc.subject | Lake Victoria Basin | |
| dc.subject | Musoma | |
| dc.subject | Tarime | |
| dc.subject | Tributaries | |
| dc.subject | Water quality | |
| dc.title | Assessment of heavy metal contamination in urban tributaries draining into Lake Victoria at Musoma and Tarime Towns, Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Article |