Evaluation of portable water in five provinces of Zambia using a water pollution index

Abstract

Five provinces with different environmental characteristics were evaluated for water pollution with the aim of identifying the major sources and area(s) most affected. The results indicate that the water in Lusaka Province is significantly high in nitrate and sodium concentration compared to other provinces considered in this study. The results further reveal that ground water is most affected by nitrate and sodium. On the contrary, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was found to be significantly higher in surface water but no particular province registered a higher amount compared to others. The results further reveal that the pollution is primarily a function of human activities, social amenities and industrial activities in the study areas.

Key words: Nitrate, sulphate, groundwater, Lusaka, ion exchange/cation-exchange chromatography.