Impact of open waste dumping at Ewuata site on the water quality of Adumini stream, Arua city
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Date
2025-11-10
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Publisher
Muni University
Abstract
Open waste dumping sites, where waste is deposited without proper treatment, are major sources of land, air and water pollution. One of the most serious effects of open dumpsites is water pollution, as waste leachate seeps in to nearby open water bodies, posing risks to human health, aquatic life. The open waste dumping site at Ewuata in Arua City, is located at only approximately 70 meters from Adumini Stream, and it is likely to pose significant environmental risks due poor waste management practices. This study evaluated the impact of open waste dumping site at Ewuata on the water quality of Adumini stream, with emphasis on physicochemical parameters and macrozoobenthic invertebrates as bio indicators, so as to support Sustainable Development Goal 6 for clean water and sanitation. The objectives of this study were to characterize solid wastes, analyze leachate and stream physicochemical parameters (pH, TDS, EC, DO, COD, BOD, Pb, Cr and Cd), and assess biological water quality using the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) score and Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT). An experimental design was employed. For characterization of solid wastes, 200 kg of solid wastesfrom 10 trucks were randomly sampled, sorted into categories (organic, plastics, metals, glass, fabrics) per ASTM (1998) standards. The physical parameters were analyzed on site whereas, COD, BOD, and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr) were analyzed in the laboratory. Stream water samples were collected from three sites upstream (S1), near-dumpsite (S2) and downstream (S3). Macrozoobenthic invertebrates were sampled using the kick sampling method (ISO, 2012), and were identified to family level, and scored using BMWP and ASPT. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc and Pearson’s correlation at a 95% confidence interval with SPSS version 20. Results showed that, solid waste was predominantly organic, followed by plastics, with minimal glass and metals. Leachate showed high pollution as parameters such as EC, COD, BOD Cd exceeded WHO standards. Water quality at the S1, S2 and S3 varied significantly, Pb and Cr were below detection limits. BMWP scores indicated good water quality at S1 (62), poor water quality at S2 (12) and S3 (25), with ASPT values of 5.6, 3, and 4.2, respectively, reflecting pollution-tolerant taxa dominance at S2. The leachate had significantly impacted the water quality, posing threat to aquatic ecosystems and community health. There is need for increased solid waste recycling and sorting before dumping, implementation controlled landfills for enhanced waste management practices and need to carry out detailed study on the seasonal variation of the physicochemical parameters of the stream
Description
A research dissertation submitted to the department of biology, faculty of science in partial fulfillment of the requirements leading to the award of the degree of master of science in biodiversity conservation of Muni University
Keywords
Open waste dumping, Ewuata water quality, Adumini stream, Arua city, Uganda
Citation
Egabile, A. (2025). Impact of open waste dumping at Ewuata site on the water quality of Adumini stream, Arua city (Unpublished graduate dissertation). Muni University, Arua, Uganda