article · Heliyon
An assessment of river water receiving municipal and industrial discharges identified widespread contamination. Measurements of heavy metals showed varying average concentrations of zinc, chromium, cadmium, and lead across multiple sampling sites. Evaluation using the comprehensive water pollution index revealed heavy pollution across nearly all monitored locations, with only a single sampling site falling below the heavily polluted threshold. In addition, heavy metal pollution index scores confirmed serious implications for public health and the surrounding environment. Statistical analysis demonstrated that nearly eighty-nine per cent of the total dataset variation derived from anthropogenic inputs, notably organic matter, nutrients, dissolved salts, and trace metals. The resulting deterioration of water quality has rendered the river unsuitable for urban farming, aquaculture, livestock watering, and recreational uses, highlighting a need for water quality improvement to support sustainable water use.
Discharging untreated urban and industrial wastewater directly into rivers creates severe hazards for surrounding communities and ecosystems. When water bodies carry hazardous concentrations of heavy metals, nutrients, and dissolved salts, basic activities such as growing food, rearing fish, and watering farm animals become unsafe. Documenting pollution levels provides essential evidence for public health protection and shows where regulatory interventions and clean-up efforts are most urgently required.
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ranged from 40. 33 ± 5. 13 to 425 ± 8. 00 mg/L; 12.34 ± 0.11 to 188 ± 7.07 mg/L; 48.00 ± 0.83 to 915. 57 ± 1. 27 mg/L; 1.56 ± 1.01 to 66.50 ± 6.36 mg/L; 0.15 ± 0. 08 to 42.83 ± 11.43 mg/L; 20.50 ± 10.61 to 77.50 ± 17.68 mg/L; and 0.35 ± 0.33 to 37.95 ± 0.92 mg/L, respectively. The average concentrations of Zn ranged (0.048 ± 0.037 to 0.318 ± 0.158 mg/L), Cr (0.012 ± 0.007 to 0.203 ± 0.199 mg/L), Cd (<0.014 ± 0.0007 to 0.02 ± 0.001 mg/L) and Pb (0.031 ± 0.008 to 0.124 ± 0.034 mg/L). The comprehensive water pollution index values varied from 0.84-13.32, indicating that at all sampling sites (except for sampling site S1), the river water was heavily polluted (CPI >2.01). Heavy metal pollution index values further demonstrated potential environmental and public health implications. The principal component analysis revealed a total of 88.99% variation in the dataset, mainly contributed by organic matter, nutrients, dissolved salts, and trace metals that originated from anthropogenic sources. Contamination of the river water has impaired its suitability for urban agriculture, aquaculture, livestock drinking, and recreational purposes. Thus, improving the river water quality is recommended to mitigate potential adverse effects and promote sustainable use of water resources.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07526
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