Publication
Title
The impact of the river Ntahangwa, the most polluted Burundian affluent of lake Tanganyika, on the water quality of the lake
Author
Abstract
Sources of pollution at the north end of Lake Tanganyika are concentrated around Bujumbura, Burundi. The impact of River Ntahangwa on the water quality of this part of Lake Tanganyika was compared with that of an unpolluted river, the Mugere. A shallow bay, not influenced by a river, was used as a reference station. Chemical analyses were carried out at four week intervals during nearly a year. Samples were taken at different distances from the shore and at different depths. River impact was detected up to 100 m from both river mouths. Even at 50 m from the mouth of the polluted River Ntahangwa, no important decrease of dissolved oxygen was detected. Chlorophyll-a maxima were found 100 m from the Ntahangwa mouth, but this was also the case 100 m from shore in the unpolluted bay. Lake water at 60 m depth was saturated with oxygen during the dry season, as it used to be in 1956. The rivers studied descent initially within the lake due to greater sediment load and lower water temperature. Nevertheless, it appears that these rivers mix completely in the lake within 100-300 m from the river mouths. The direct effects from organic pollution of the Ntahangwa on the lake seem to be rather negligible. Appropriate anti-erosion measures should reduce massive sediment discharge into the lake.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Hydrobiologia. - The Hague, 1948, currens
Publication
The Hague : 1996
ISSN
0018-8158 [print]
1573-5117 [online]
DOI
10.1007/BF00018713
Volume/pages
328 :2 (1996) , p. 161-171
ISI
A1996VG10400007
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.10.2008
Last edited 01.10.2024
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