The Effect of Phosphate Detergents Discharges and the Application of Fertilizers on the Water Quality of Liphiring River

Abstract

Sewage from the waste treatment ponds serving the university community in Roma, water samples from the Liphiring River and soil samples from the croplands along the river banks were analyzed for some selected parameters. The values for the physical parameters pH, temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids and turbidity suggest that the discharge of the wastewater into the river does have much negative impact on the water quality. Also, the levels of chemical parameters suggest some degree of contamination. The levels of nitrites and sulphates are higher in the sewage thus the effluent discharge contributes to levels in the river. The levels of phosphates and nitrates are higher in soil thus the soil contributes to levels in river water due to leaching and run-offs.