Description of Water Pollution Sources in Lake Victoria - Research Paper Example

 Research Paper on the Location, Contents, and Use of a Scientific Article Part One Introduction This research paper investigates “Estimation of Water Pollution Sources in Lake Victoria, East Africa: Application and Elaboration of the Rapid Assessment Methodology” article of a scientific journal.The select article estimates water pollution sources in Lake Victoria. It also Applies and elaborates on the rapid methodology used in the research (Scheren et al., 2000). Lake Victoria is an inland water system in tropical East Africa and animportant fishing ground in the area. The Lake, therefore, provides both food and a source of livelihood for the region and its waters used in upstream Africa, Egypt for irrigation and support of life. Lake Victoria has a surface area of 68800 km2 hence making it the second largest lake ion the world. Currently, the lake is characterised by eutrophication and low dissolved oxygen due to pollution from human activity (Scheren et al., 2000). The pollution load is mainly domestic in nature with little industrial pollution. The article tries to identify a reliable method to gauge this pollution in terms of intensity and quantity from the various sources. Since the lake shares among three nations, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the research determines the pollution load from each side and the management policies in place and their effectiveness is curbing the pollution into the lake. The article also views policies for sustainable development useful in the region (Scheren et al., 2000). About the Authors The lead researcher and author of the article is M. Scheren. A member of The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivore (Scheren et al., 2000). The organisation is responsible for monitoring and advising both the region and the United Nations Security Council on the effects of Industrial development on the environment. The second Author, H.A. Zanting is a member of the Faculty of Technology Management and centre technology for sustainable development in the Eindhoven University of Technology in Netherlands (Scheren et al., 2000). His expertise in sustainable development is key to the research as pollution due to increased human activity is an issue of sustainable development. A. M. Lemmens is a corresponding author in the research and often consulted on technical matters that require specialized opinion (Scheren et al., 2000). Reason for the Research The increased pollution of Lake Victoria is the recent past that has subsequently resulted in immense alterations in the chemistry and biology of the lake’s ecosystem necessitated the research. The Lake is a vital social and economic tool in the region acting as a source of food, livelihood, and transport. The immediate detrimental effects of pollution facing the lake directly affect the population and the future generation's ’ability to rely on the lake for sustenance (Scheren et al., 2000). The lake currently experiences algae bloom and massive decrease in fish numbers due to the pollution. The pollution sources from the domestic actives of inhabitants in the lake region, industrial effluents and agricultural farmlands and practises. The effect of this pollution is the decrease in the water quality of the lake. Transportation and navigation in the lake are facing a serious challenge to water hyacinth growing in the water. The reduced number of fish is due to the massive eutrophication and decreased oxygen levels in the lake (Scheren et al., 2000). The general effect of low water quality in the population is the contamination of the drinking water and subsequent widespread water-borne illnesses in the region. The research assesses the sources of these pollutions, their individual effect on the lake and finds methods of regular assessment of pollution in the region. The research is to be use as a tool for advising the community and a basis for implementation of scientifically sound sustainable principles in an effort to reducing the rampant pollution. The importance of this research is its contribution to the development of methods to use to assess the pollution magnitude and intensity in a region with poor and insufficient data and resources (Scheren et al., 2000). Location of Data Collection and Experimentation Areas The main areas of research were the three riparian states that are Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The specific areas of interest were the different towns nearby the lake according to the pollution source in question. The industrial pollution assessment took place in the large nearby industrial towns of Kisumu, Musoma, Jinja, and Kampala (Scheren et al., 2000). The experiments set up in the research included assessments in the rivers draining into the lake and the general water catchment region of the lake. Methodology The researchers followed the following steps to come up with the results and in order to meet the objectives. First, the method assesses the pollution sources in order to establish the pollution load and its magnitude (Scheren et al., 2000). The pollution load is equal to the product of a functional variable and the pollution intensity. The functional variables are measurable characteristics to which pollution apportions. This data comes from the field, but it is also available in reports and governmental and non-governmental institutes. Secondly, the method establishes the penetration factors due to the natural system of purification by rivers and the purification by water treatment facilities (Scheren et al., 2000).Natural purification occurs in rivers by the replenishing ability of the river. Therefore, not all the pollution from the source reaches the lake. Also in domestic and industrial effluents, some undergo treatment before entering the rivers and lake. The source load at source is hence not the same as the load after the treatment. The reduction factor is of importance in this research. In addition, the method establishes an error analysis in order to report the results reliably within a determined margin error (Scheren et al., 2000). Every scientific research experiment works on a margin of error in order to build a confidence level. The acknowledgement of errors works to increase the confidence level of the results obtained. The probability, therefore, lies within some bounds. Lastly, the method evaluates the effects of the pollution sources to the lakes quality in terms of nutrient balance (Scheren et al., 2000). The method concludes by mapping the individual sources and the effects it has on the water nutrient concentration and balance. Nutrients are responsible for the detrimental effects of pollution, and their balance determines the nature of the water. Results The results of the research included the characterisation of the lake basin with the different sources of pollution and their waste load contribution. The results mapped the average contribution of the three countries to the lake’s pollution in terms of industrial, domestic, agricultural, and atmospheric sources. The results obtained also included the penetration factors of the different rivers in the watershed. Kenya had the highest Biochemical Oxygen demand load to the lake followed by Uganda and Tanzania in that order. The average concentration of the lake in terms of nutrients is 0.640mg/l of nitrogen and 0.0704 mg/l of phosphorous the two most abundant pollutants. The nutrient input calculated resulted to 117000 and 14000 tonnes per year of nitrogen and phosphorus (Scheren et al., 2000). Significance of the Research The research correctly assesses the sources of water pollution and effectively applies the methodology in the case of insufficient data and resources. The data obtained is useful for implementing the necessary management options to counteract the pollution effects in Lake Victoria (Scheren et al., 2000). The research gives room for future research into parameters to reduce the uncertainty and help rehabilitate the lake fully. Part Two The area of pollution and especially in inland water resources raises much interest. The future of future generation rests upon the sustainable use of today’s resources. Lake Victoria being the second largest inland lake in the world provides a good opportunity to determine the sources of pollutioncarefully. This article looks atthe methodology used to assess the sources and impacts of pollution in a natural ecosystem even with insufficient data and resources (Scheren et al., 2000). This information obtained helps in mitigation and management practices in curbing pollution. The Journal of Environmental Management published the article. The journal is academic that publishes articles that relate to the environment and its management and protection. Articles in this journal deal with issues affecting the environment, the mitigation steps needed to curb environmental degradation and the management policies that need to ensure the sustenance of the environment. The article in consideration gives a simple research on the problem under discussion. It is easy to understand its objectives even with the use of formulas and mathematical expressions that are not decipherable at this stage. The overall objectives, methodology, and results are understandable and followed directly without the need for further referencing. The conclusion and recommendations given add up to one thing; the preservation measures needed to preserve Lake Victoria. The article specifically addresses the officials in the regulatory bodies at the national, regional and at the watershed level involved in the management of water resources in the three states that share the waters of the lake. It aims at providing a basis for correctional practices (Scheren et al., 2000). The article also serves as a guide to future scholars in the field who may want to advance the topic. The understanding of the effects of uncontrolled human activity, even without technological advancement in a region, to the water resources present is mind opening. The article opens ones’ understanding to the need for control of every activity human beings impose on the environment. The natural replenishment of natural courses is not enough as the population is rapidly increasing while the resource capacity remains the same or depleted. Man has to take initiative and try to reduce the effect of the effluent released to the environment by means of treatment. Works Cited Scheren, P., Zanting, H., and Lemmens A.(2000) "Estimation of Water Pollution Sources in Lake Victoria, East Africa: Application and Elaboration of the Rapid Assessment Methodology." Journal of Environmental Management 58.4: 235-48. ProQuest. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. . Read More