Assessment of Physicochemical Profile and Heavy Metal Constituents in the Groundwaters of Rural Areas in Southwest Tanzania

Pub Date : 2024-07-10 DOI:10.1134/s0097807823602765

M. J. Mkelemi, G. N. Mwaijengo, M. J. Rwiza

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Abstract

This study focuses on groundwater quality in rural areas of Tanzania, addressing the literature gap on water quality data for sustainable rural development. Most rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa depend on groundwater for their domestic use. Despite this importance of groundwater for rural community development, limited research has been conducted on the physicochemical and heavy metal content, creating a significant knowledge gap. The absence of such information raises concerns about water quality in rural areas of Africa, posing potential challenges to public health and community well-being due to the risk of groundwater contamination. To bridge this gap, a comprehensive study was conducted to assess groundwater quality in a selected district, focussing on physicochemical and heavy metal content in 19 boreholes across various villages. The Water Quality Index (WQI) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed for providing a detailed evaluation of groundwater quality. Results revealed a widespread acidity, iron, and manganese in most boreholes, with 6 exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) and Tanzania Bureau standards (TBS) for Pb in rainy and dry seasons. Additionally, total dissolved solids, chloride, and hardness surpassed WHO and TBS limits in a single borehole. One-way ANOVA and paired t-tests confirmed significant differences (p < 0.01) among boreholes and across seasons. Pearson’s correlation test found strongly significant dependences between pH and iron, as well as hardness and manganese. Approximately 73.68% of water samples were classified as poor and polluted water, rendering them unsuitable for drinking. Elevated heavy metals could be attributed to the region’s geological features and mining activities. The study underscores the need for pragmatic monitoring and treatment measures to address identified issues and ensure safe drinking water for the community.

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坦桑尼亚西南部农村地区地下水的物理化学特征和重金属成分评估

摘要本研究侧重于坦桑尼亚农村地区的地下水水质，填补了水质数据促进农村可持续发展方面的文献空白。撒哈拉以南非洲的大多数农村社区都依赖地下水作为生活用水。尽管地下水对农村社区的发展非常重要，但有关地下水理化和重金属含量的研究却非常有限，这就造成了巨大的知识空白。这些信息的缺失引发了人们对非洲农村地区水质的担忧，地下水污染的风险给公共卫生和社区福祉带来了潜在的挑战。为了弥补这一差距，我们开展了一项综合研究，对一个选定地区的地下水质量进行评估，重点是各个村庄 19 个井眼中的物理化学和重金属含量。采用水质指数（WQI）和主成分分析法（PCA）对地下水质量进行了详细评估。结果显示，大多数井眼普遍存在酸度、铁和锰，其中 6 个井眼的铅含量在雨季和旱季超过了世界卫生组织（WHO）和坦桑尼亚局（TBS）的标准。此外，有一个井眼的总溶解固体、氯化物和硬度超过了世界卫生组织（WHO）和坦桑尼亚局（TBS）的限值。单因子方差分析和配对 t 检验证实了不同井眼和不同季节之间的显著差异（p < 0.01）。Pearson 相关性检验发现，pH 值与铁之间以及硬度与锰之间存在非常明显的相关性。约 73.68% 的水样被归类为劣质水和污染水，不适合饮用。重金属含量升高可能与该地区的地质特征和采矿活动有关。这项研究强调，有必要采取务实的监测和处理措施，以解决已发现的问题，确保社区的饮用水安全。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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