DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION

Drinking Water Contamination in Uganda

Abstract

The analyses of this study aim to explore the issues concerning the contamination of drinking water in Uganda in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the contamination of drinking water in Uganda; in addition, the study presents informative report on the issues related to water contamination in Uganda. The research also analyzes many aspects of the issues concerning water contamination in Uganda and tries to enlighten the quality of drinking water. Finally the research describes the analysis of issue's causes concerning water contamination in Uganda.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Part I: Informative Report on the Issues Related to Water Contamination in Uganda5

Part II: Analysis of Issue's Causes8

Part III: Conclusion11

References12

Drinking Water Contamination in Uganda

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to enlighten and explore water contamination in Uganda. This paper aims to gather diverse sources in order to focus on the issues related to water contamination. In addition, the paper will also explore the causes behind the water contamination issues in Uganda in order to prescribe effective strategy to cope with the scenario. In at least one region of the Uganda, the water utility is putting concerted efforts toward using reclaimed water to meet a major portion of the potable (drinking) supply. Millions of people in arid Uganda drink from aquifers recharged with reclaimed water. To use reclaimed water, the water utilities follow strict EPA rules.

The EPA does not permit treated wastewater to go directly from a wastewater treatment plant to any human use without first spending time in another system, such as an aquifer or a reservoir. In addition, the EPA enforces stringent requirements for disinfecting potable water from reclaimed sources. Reclaimed water must be free of bacteria and viruses before it can be used and must also meet minimum chemical and physical standards for clarity, pH, BOD, and suspended solids. Water reclamation depends on the most advanced filtration methods in addition to innovations using UV light. The EPA's 2004 report Guidelines for Water Reuse provides information on the main uses of reclaimed water: watering in urban areas, manufacturing processes, agriculture and irrigation, landscaping, recreational uses, and groundwater recharge.

Uganda was one of the first large cities to reuse partially treated waste water in irrigation to conserve water for an expanding metropolitan population. The United States followed Uganda's lead as early as 1900. Operations known as sewage farms disposed of community wastes and at the same time recycled a portion for irrigation. Over time reclaimed water became a major source used by agriculture for irrigation, the largest user, and for watering golf courses and lawns. Recycled water now supplies the following additional activities: cooling industrial machinery, cleaning vehicles, washing circuit boards, dust suppression at construction sites, soil compaction, supplementing recreational waters, supplying fish hatcheries, watering pastures, and rebuilding wetlands.

Part I: Informative Report on the Issues Related to Water Contamination in Uganda

In Uganda, the resistance to more drinking water quality initiatives takes several forms. Some of those opposed to more pollution-control measures, and in favor of ...