Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pollution and Self-Cleansing of an Urban River in a Developing Country: A Case Study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pollution and self-purification trends of an urban river namely, Msimbazi River, in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania, were investigated. Site investigations and water quality analyses were done. The river is polluted in terms of high organic and nutrient concentrations, low dissolved oxygen, and high counts of indicator organisms. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) concentrations were 27– 340 mg/L. Dissolved oxygen was found to be as low as 0.9 mg O2/L. Bacteriological pollution increased with distance downstream of the river, a trend attributable to an increase in the catchment of pollution sources, which are on-site sanitation systems. Although the river has an appreciable self-purification capacity, the capacity is strained by persistent pollution overloads. The pollution plight of the river is attributable to its being flanked by expanding human habitats and vibrant industrial, institutional, and socio-economic activities. Provision for pretreatment of discharges into the river is put forward as a remedial measure for the observed pollution. Matching nontechnical and techno-social remedial measures are also recommended. These include sensitization of polluters on merits of environmental protection practices such as cleaner production and strict enforcement of environmental protection laws.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

Literature Cited

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameAPHA (American Public Health Association), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF) (1992) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater EditionNumber20th APHA Publishers Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • M. M. Benjamin (2002) Water chemistry McGraw-Hill Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Chaggu D. Mashauri J. Buuren ParticleVan W. Sanders G. Lettinga (2002) ArticleTitleExcreta disposal in Dar es Salaam City Environmental Management 30 IssueID5 609–620 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00267-002-2685-8 Occurrence Handle12375082

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S. Chapra (1997) Surface water quality modelling McGraw-Hill Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • S. C. Choy C. B. Thomson J. C. Marshall (2002) ArticleTitleEcological condition of Australian arid-zone rivers Water Science and Technology 45 IssueID11 225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Cotman J. Zagorc-Koncan A. Drolc (2001) ArticleTitleStudy of impacts of treated wastewater to Krka River, Slovenia Water Science and Technology 44 IssueID6 47–54

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameDCC (Dar es Salaam City Commission) (1992) Environmental profile of the metropolitan area DCC, Dar es Salaam Tanzania

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameDCC (Dar es Salaam City Commission) (1998) Dar es Salaam City environmental health profile DCC, Dar es Salaam Tanzania

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Girgin N. Kazanci M. Düűgel (2003) ArticleTitleOrdination and classification of macroinvertebrates and environmental data of a stream in Turkey Water Science and Technology 47 IssueID9 133–139

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Gondwe F. L. Mwanuzi T. S. A. Mbwette (1997) ArticleTitleSeptic tanks–soakpit systems in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Journal of Environmental Engineering 123 IssueID1 93–95 Occurrence Handle10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:1(93)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W. M. Grayman H. J. Day R (Skip) Luken (2003) ArticleTitleRegional water quality management for the Don Nai River Basin, Vietnam Water Science and Technology 48 IssueID10 17–23

    Google Scholar 

  • G. M. Hornberger J. P Raffensperger P. L. Wiberg K. N. Eshleman (1998) Elements of physical hydrology Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore, MD

    Google Scholar 

  • H. A. Howkes (1979) Invertebrates as indicators of river water quality A. James L. Evison (Eds) Biological indicators of water quality John Wiley and Sons Chichester, UK 2-1–245

    Google Scholar 

  • A. James (1979) The value of biological indicators in relation to other parameters of water quality A. James L. Evison (Eds) Biological indicators of water quality John Wiley and Sons Chichester, UK 1–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, D., M. E. Kaseva, and S. E. Mbuligwe. 2002. Hazardous waste issues in developing countries. In D. Grasso, T. M. Vogel, and B. Smets (eds.), Knowledge for sustainable development: An insight into the encyclopaedia of life support systems. Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK (http://www.eolss.net)

  • Kaseva, M. E., and S. E. Mbuligwe. 2002. Hazardous waste management in Tanzania: Retrospection and future outlook. In D. Grasso, T. M. Vogel, and B. Smets (eds.), Knowledge for sustainable development: An insight into the encyclopaedia of life support systems. Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK (http://www.eolss.net)

  • Kiango, S., and J. Amend. 2001. Linking (peri-)urban agriculture and organic waste management in Dar es Salaam. P. Rechsel and D. Kunze (eds.). Pages 115–128 in Waste composting for urban and peri-urban agriculture: Closing the rural–urban nutrient cycle in sub-Saharan Africa. International Water Management Institute (IWMI)/Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)/CABI Publishing, London

  • J. M. Lazorchak B. H. Hill B. S. Brown F. H. McCormick V. Engle D. J. Lattier M. J. Bagley M. B. Griffith A. F. Maciorowski G. P. Toth (2003) USEPA biomonitoring and bioindicator concepts needed to evaluate the biological integrity of aquatic systems B. A Markert A. M. Breure H. G. Zechmeister (Eds) Bioindicators and biomonitors: Principles, concepts and applications Elsevier Boston 831–874

    Google Scholar 

  • C. C. Lee S. D. Lin (2000) Handbook of environmental engineering calculations McGraw- Hill New York

    Google Scholar 

  • B. A. Markert A. M. Breure H. G. Zechmeister (2003) Definitions, strategies and principles for bioindication/biomonitoring of the environment B. A. Markert A. M. Breure H. G. Zechmeister (Eds) Bioindicators and biomonitors: Principles, concepts and applications Elsevier Boston 3–39

    Google Scholar 

  • S. E. Mbuligwe (1997) ArticleTitleExperience from the Community Infrastructure Upgrading Programme (CIP) The Tanzania Engineer 6 IssueID2 21–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbuligwe, S. E. 2000. Evolution and role of pseudo-natural wetland systems in Attenuation of pollution: A case study of Dar es Salaam City. Pages 1163–1170 7th International Conference on Wetlands for Pollution Control, pp 1163 – 1170 in Lake Buena Vista Florida, November 11–16, IWA/University of Florida, USA

  • Mbuligwe, S. E. In press (a). The health and environmental trail of agrochemicals use in Tanzania: Root causes, impacts and mitigation prospects Journal of Building and Land Development

  • Mbuligwe, S. E. In press (b). Applicability of a septic tank/engineered wetland coupled system in the treatment and recycling of wastewater from a small community. Environmental Management DOI: 10.1007/s00267-003-0174-3

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameMetcalf and Eddy (1991) Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse EditionNumber3 Tata McGraw-Hill New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameMetcalf and Eddy (2003) Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse EditionNumber4 Tata McGraw-Hill New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Meybeck D. Chapman R. Helmer (1990) Global freshwater quality: A first assessment WHO/UNEP Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • J. R. Mihelcic (1999) Fundamentals of environmental engineering John Wiley & Sons New York

    Google Scholar 

  • N. L. Nemerow (1991) Stream, lake, estuary, and ocean pollution Van Nostrand Reinhold New York

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Niemirycz (1997) The Vistula River in Poland: Environmental characteristics and historical perspective G. A. Best T. Bogacka E. Niemirycz (Eds) International river water quality: pollution and restoration E & FN Spon New York 11–19

    Google Scholar 

  • I. O’Farrell R. J. Lombardo P. T. Pinto C. Loez (2002) ArticleTitleThe assessment of water quality in the Lower Lujăn River (Buenos Aires, Argentina); phytoplankton and algal bioassays Environmental Pollution 120 IssueID2002 207–218 Occurrence Handle12395832

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rashid, B. 2000. Abattoir waste management—Case study Vingunguti abattoir. Dissertation Report, Department of Environmental Engineering, University College of Lands and Architectural Studies, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • B. E. Rittmann P. L. McCarty (2001) Environmental biotechnology: Principles and applications McGraw -Hill Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • C. N. Sawyer P. L. McCarty G. F. Rankin (1994) Chemistry for environmental engineering EditionNumber4 McGraw-Hill New York

    Google Scholar 

  • C. N. Sawyer P. L. McCarty G. F. Rankin (2003) Chemistry for environmental engineering and science EditionNumber5 Mc Graw-Hill New York

    Google Scholar 

  • W. Stumm J. J. Morgan (1996) Aquatic chemistry: Chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters John Wiley & Sons New York

    Google Scholar 

  • T. H. Y. Tebutt (1992) Principles of water quality control Pergamon Press Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • W. Viessman SuffixJr M. J. Hammer (1998) Water supply and pollution control, 6th ed Addison Wesley Menlo Park, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Watson A. D. Burnett (1995) Hydrology: An environmental approach—Theory and applications of ground water and surface water for engineers and geologists Lewis Publishers Boca Raton, FL

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Mr. Aboud Khalfan, who carried out the field work for this study, and to UCLAS under whose auspices the study was conducted.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering Faculty of Lands and Environmental Engineering, University College of Lands and Architectural Studies, 35176, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Stephen E. Mbuligwe & Mengiseny E. Kaseva

  2. Stephen E. Mbuligwe, 3650 Nicholson Dr., Apartment # 2131, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802, USA

    Stephen E. Mbuligwe

Authors
  1. Stephen E. Mbuligwe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mengiseny E. Kaseva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen E. Mbuligwe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mbuligwe, S.E., Kaseva, M.E. Pollution and Self-Cleansing of an Urban River in a Developing Country: A Case Study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Environmental Management 36, 328–342 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0068-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0068-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation