Water Quality in and around Lake Edward Basin of the Greater Virunga Landscape, D. R. Congo Side

Abstract

A systematic study has been carried out to assess the water quality in and around Lake Edward basin in D.R. Congo Side. Fifty four water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, including: temperature, discharge , pH, electrical conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, COD, BOD, Carbonate, Bicarbonate, alkalinity, total hardness, turbidity, calcium hardness, calcium, magnesium hardness, magnesium, total nitrogen, ammo-nium, nitrate, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, chloride, sul-phate and total suspended solids. For bacteriological parameters: fecal bacteria , enterococcus bacteria, vibrio and salmonella shigella bacteria were considered. For macroinvertebrates assemblages all taxa using standards methods for each parameter. A comparison of data from dry (June to August) and wet (September to May) season was done in and around Lake Eduard watershed. The analytical data of various physicochemical parameters indicates that water characteristics in the watershed were in the limit of WHO standards for drinking water and aquatic life. Bacteriological water quality of some ecosystems in the watershed revealed the infestation of water with bacteria which make the water unusable for drinking by the surrounding population near and within Lake Eduard watershed. Longtime period sampling in the watershed is needed to understand the variation and composition of water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrate environment of the watershed.