Department of Environmental Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Chemistry, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Applied Science, Higher College of Tenhnology, University of Gondar, P. O. Box No. 47, Alkhuwair, Muscat, Oman; Department of Public Health and President, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Khan, M.M., Department of Environmental Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, Department of Chemistry, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, Department of Applied Science, Higher College of Tenhnology, University of Gondar, P. O. Box No. 47, Alkhuwair, Muscat, Oman; Admassu, M., Department of Environmental Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, Department of Public Health and President, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Sharma, H.R., Department of Environmental Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, Department of Public Health and President, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
The water quality of river Shinta was assessed near Azuzu area of Gondar town of Ethiopia with the view of determining the effects of urban activities, human settlement and industrial effluent discharge on its water quality. The water samples were analyzed and the range of values observed were pH (6.98-8.95), electronic conductivity (3.22-9.09 dS/m), dissolved oxygen (4.4-5.9mg/L), total solids (556-869mg/L), total alkalinity (300-345mg/L), total hardness (234-300mg/L), chloride (119-411 mg/L), calcium (41.60-95.0 mg/L) and iron(0.5-3.0 mg/L). Lead and zinc were remained below detection limits. There were distinct variations observed in some water quality parameters, as river flows from Azuzu upstream to Azuzu down stream stations in Gondar town. The survey results showed that about 25% of the respondent's children face health problems and about 18.75% of the respondent's complaints about irritation after taking bath from river water. About 25% of respondents reported illness of their domestic animals as they believed it may be due to consumption of polluted river water whereas, 59% who are using river water for irrigation purposes complained of wilting of seasonal crops and decrease in crop yields. © 2009 - Kalpana Corporation.
