OCHIENG S.

SYLVESTER
E25-0112/04
Bsc. CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING.
SUPERVISOR: DR. THUMBI

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
Point and non-point source pollution due to degraded water quality
and altered hydrography among others, have been recorded among
streams and rivers draining urban areas. Large quantities of liquid,
solid and sewage wastes find their way into the rivers. Fish species
are becoming endangered and water supplies become scarce and
polluted.
PROBLEM JUSTIFICATION.
Only a very small quantity of the Earths fresh water, around 0.008
per cent, is available for human use. 70% goes to agriculture, 23% to
industry, and only 8% to domestic consumption. In developing
countries, 95% of human waste water is discharged untreated or
minimally treated into water bodies.

PROBLEM STATEMENT.
Population growth in the country and in particular Ruiru town has
sharply increased the demand for potable freshwater.
Pollution along River Ruiru is at critical levels. If cleanup was carried
out on the river, it would add to the water sources for domestic use.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.
Main objective:
The main objective is to evaluate the pollution profile of River
Ruiru as it flows through Ruiru town.
Specific objectives
To evaluate the organic levels at different points along the river.
To determine the effluent discharge points from Ruiru town.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Most Rivers flowing through urban centers get polluted by wastes,

based on that fact, it is therefore hypothesized that River Ruiru is

polluted as it flows through Ruiru town.

STUDY LIMITATIONS.
The research will be limited to selected points along the river

due to limited time assigned to the project.

Due to limited Financing, only selected areas can be studied

and as such an extensive study of the whole river is not possible.

LITERATURE REVIEW
TYPES OF POLLUTANTS (K. V. Ellis, 1989).
Sewage and other oxygen-demanding wastes
Pesticides and herbicides
Pathogens
Inorganic minerals and chemical compounds
Sediments washed by storm water
Radioactive substances
SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS (Wandiga, S., 1999).
Municipal
Industrial wastes
Agricultural wastes
Storm water.
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION (K. V. Ellis, 1989).
Notable effects of water pollution include those involved in:
Human health.
Acid rain
Eutrophication

SELF-PURIFICATION OF STREAMS (K. V. Ellis, 1989).

Factors influencing self-purification:

Dissolved oxygen
Type of organic matter
Toxic substances
Physical characteristics of the stream
Weather conditions
Dilution
Sedimentation and sludge deposits

DESCRIPTON OF SOME PARAMETERS (K. V. Ellis, 1989).

Hydrogen ion concentration or pH

Temperature
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Dissolved Oxygen
Ammonia

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

STUDY AREA
The study area encompasses the entire length of the river as it
flows through Ruiru town. The samples are to be taken at the
rivers entry into the town, at two intermediate points and at the
exit.

SAMPLING
A total of four sampling points were chosen based on;
Accessibility of the sampling points, cost effectiveness for
collection, analysis and reporting. The assumption here is that the
river is not highly polluted as it enters the town, it gets polluted in
the town and thus its pollution load should be greater in the town.

STUDY AREA

PARAMETERS ANALYZED
TEMPERATURE
The temperature is to be monitored on-site at the time of sampling.

CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)

This is to be determined using the open reflux method. It is used as a measure of
the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter content of a sample susceptible to
oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO)
It is determined using the titration method and is required to support aquatic life.
pH (pH METER METHOD)
The test is carried out using a pH meter dipped in the sample.
AMMONIA TEST (DPD METHOD)
Done using a photometer set to 640nm.

RESULTS
Date

Sampling
station

Temperature
(oC)

4TH NOV

1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4

24
24
23
24
22
23
23
22
22
22.5
22
23
24
23
24
24
24
23
24
23
22.5
23
23
24

12TH NOV

19TH NOV
(wet day/
period)
19TH JAN

27TH JAN

9TH FEB

Hydrogen ion
concentration
Mg/L
7.06
6.65
6.56
6.83
8.57
8.36
8.23
7.53
8.73
8.33
7.85
7.56
8.65
8.32
7.22
6.85
8.63
8.26
7.96
7.65
7.98
7.86
7.21
7.08

Dissolved
Oxygen
Mg/L
4.1
3.6
2.5
2.1
3.8
3.4
3.2
2.6
4.4
4.1
3.6
3.3
3.8
3.6
3.2
2.5
3.6
3.5
2.8
2.3
3.7
3.2
2.6
2.1

Chemical
Oxygen
Demand mg/L
180
200
205
258
208
225
238
249
155
185
188
203
210
212
227
245
198
255
268
305
225
248
285
335

Ammonia
Mg/L
0.63
0.86
0.96
1.05
0.76
0.92
1.15
1.25
0.55
0.59
0.67
0.78
0.65
0.77
0.98
1.22
0.83
0.96
1.23
1.26
0.85
0.98
1.28
1.33

TEMPERATURE

Temperature variations showing

lower values on the wet day and
higher values on the dryer days.
Temperature values lie within the
recommended values, thus no
evidence of thermal pollution

CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND

COD levels noted to increase as the

river progresses towards the towns
exit.

AMMONIA

Ammonia values on the

increase as the river progresses
towards the towns exit.

AVERAGES

The average values of the

parameters tested show
progressive increases in the
COD and Ammonia and
decreases in the pH and DO.

HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION

The hydrogen ion
concentration showing the
values lie within the
recommended range of 6.58.5

DISSOLVED OXYGEN
The DO values showing a
progressive decrease in
the values from the initial
to the final station.

KENYA STANDARDS
Parameter

Guide value

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3

Station 4

(maximum
allowable limit)
Ph

6.5 8.5

8.27

7.96

7.51

7.25

Ammonia

0.5 (mg/L)

0.71(mg/L)

0.85(mg/L)

1.05(mg/L)

1.15(mg/L)

DO

5.0 mg/L

3.9(mg/L)

3.6 (mg/L)

3.0(mg/L)

2.5(mg/L)

COD

50 (mg/L)

196(mg/L)

221(mg/L)

235(mg/L)

266(mg/L)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STANDARDS

Parameter

Guide value

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3

Station 4

(maximum

allowable limit)
pH

6.5 - 8.5

8.27

7.96

7.51

7.25

Ammonia

0.2 mg/l (up to 0.3

0.71(mg/L)

0.85(mg/L)

1.05(mg/L)

1.15(mg/L)

3.9(mg/L)

3.6(mg/L)

3.0(mg/L)

2.5(mg/L)

196(mg/L)

221(mg/L)

235(mg/L)

266(mg/L)

mg/l in anaerobic
waters)
DO

5.0 mg/L
about 75%
saturation

COD

50(mg/L)

CONCLUSION
The pollution monitoring of the Ruiru River has led to the
following conclusions after analysis of the data obtained:
The field investigations coupled with laboratory analysis of
samples obtained from 4 monitoring stations from Ruiru River
confirmed gross pollution of the River. Most pollutants in the
river exceed accepted discharge standards into natural rivers.
The Ruiru River pollution increases as the river flows
progressively downwards. The upstream section shows lesser
pollution, followed by the middle section and the downstream
section showing the highest pollution load. This area is
characterized by solid waste and the water has a characteristic
odour which is strong and pungent. This is an indication of
high microbial activity (anaerobic) giving up a lot of gases.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The following are some of the measures that need to be taken:

Clean up action plan be drawn up and to involve communities living and

operating along the Ruiru River.
The discharge of human waste into the river should be addressed.
The industrial discharges should be stopped through efforts by the industries
to take measures to address pollution emanating from their production
processes.
Some technical and financial support should be considered in developing
technologies to pre-treat discharges from industries.
There is need, to look at the existing legislation in relation to environmental
pollution, penalties and enforcement.

Continue to build the capacity of the Local Authorities through

improvement of the monitoring laboratories and equipment as well as
organizing refresher courses.
Continuous monitoring of the river to ascertain that the pollution
levels are within recommended levels.
Engineering solutions to clean up efforts such as channeling,
introduction of flow weirs in the river in order to increase the flow
conditions, especially on the stagnant sections of the river to enhance
the river self-purification and increase oxygen dissolution.
A vigorous campaign to educate people on the importance of a clean
environment and the danger of polluted waters should be initiated
immediately.