MSc Dissertation in Water Quality and H
Water Quality and Human Health in Southern Africa: Application to Scenarios to Zimbabwe
Tarirai Manyevere
A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
MSc in Enviromental Sciences(Pollution and Monitoring)
Brunel University(United Kingdom)
2010
ABSTRACT
Parsons and Tredoux (1995) in their research noted that water quality requirement for a particular use plays an important role in the management of water resources and in turn forms an integral part of water quality management. Water is an essential natural resource that supports all life on earth; this can be human beings, animals and vegetation. It is however interesting to note that even though it is vital to have water in our daily lives its availability is not evenly distributed across the countries that make up Southern Africa. This shortage also makes the availability of fresh clean water quite a rare commodity thus in the process posing serious environmental and health hazards to the varied communities. Southern Africa lies in a drought-prone region, which experiences natural drought conditions caused by the extended absence of rainfall. Within Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, drought is considered a critical issue because it underlies many problems encountered in developing water-resources for the people. The occurrence of drought can therefore be attributed to the serious consequences on water quality and availability for domestic and agricultural use, reducing the water supply both in quantity and in quality. The use of soil additives such as manure and fertilizers, livestock production and small scale industries that have mushroomed across Zimbabwe has led to increased concern on their environmental impacts and effects they have on the water quality that is available for human consumption. As such the main objective of this study was to focus on the impact that this is contributing on the
Tarirai Manyevere
A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
MSc in Enviromental Sciences(Pollution and Monitoring)
Brunel University(United Kingdom)
2010
ABSTRACT
Parsons and Tredoux (1995) in their research noted that water quality requirement for a particular use plays an important role in the management of water resources and in turn forms an integral part of water quality management. Water is an essential natural resource that supports all life on earth; this can be human beings, animals and vegetation. It is however interesting to note that even though it is vital to have water in our daily lives its availability is not evenly distributed across the countries that make up Southern Africa. This shortage also makes the availability of fresh clean water quite a rare commodity thus in the process posing serious environmental and health hazards to the varied communities. Southern Africa lies in a drought-prone region, which experiences natural drought conditions caused by the extended absence of rainfall. Within Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, drought is considered a critical issue because it underlies many problems encountered in developing water-resources for the people. The occurrence of drought can therefore be attributed to the serious consequences on water quality and availability for domestic and agricultural use, reducing the water supply both in quantity and in quality. The use of soil additives such as manure and fertilizers, livestock production and small scale industries that have mushroomed across Zimbabwe has led to increased concern on their environmental impacts and effects they have on the water quality that is available for human consumption. As such the main objective of this study was to focus on the impact that this is contributing on the