Abating eutrophication on urban lakes: a case study of Kabaka’s Lake, Uganda

Abstract

Eutrophication of water bodies is a challenge in many urban areas. This study measured and modelled quantitatively the pollutant nutrient load of an urban lake (80,596 m2), and assessed both external (constructed wetland) and internal (dredging) eutrophication extenuation measures. For the past 25 years, there has been redistribution (p < 0.005) of the lake’s catchment land use, with built-up area increasing by 78.5%, and a reduction in vegetated (37.2%) and water surface (1.8%) areas. A 92.2% reduction in the lakes receiving wetland footprint (p = 0.000003) was noted, with increased nutrient load. The lake’s light attenuation was found to be dominated by algae, limited by nitrogen and classified under the oligotrophic class (Trophic State Index < 40), with a threat of eutrophication in an estimated 25 years. Scenario analyses show that the construction of a wetland in the remaining 0.54 hectares of natural wetland will reduce total phosphorus by 35% and total nitrate by 45% (p = 0.05), whereas dredging the lake could reduce them by 80% each (p = 0.0005). Watershed management is the only sustainable solution to control nutrient flow into the lake and enable self-cleansing, factoring in the design of the receiving wetland and groundwater sources.