期刊名称：International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics
电子版ISSN：2148-9173
出版年度：2019
卷号：6
期号：1
页码：1-14
DOI：10.30897/ijegeo.466933
语种：English
出版社：IJEGEO
摘要：The Kenyan coast is a semi-arid region frequently faced with severe water scarcity especiallyduring prolonged drought and a rapid population growth. Groundwaterprovides 50% of the water demand and most sources are poorly drilled,over-abstracted and abandoned. The aquifers occur in sedimentary formations offluvial and lacustrine origin. There is a need to have a groundwater monitoring system in place; therefore thisstudy analyses selected physico- chemical and microbial parameters using bothlaboratory and field methods. Arc-GIS 9.3, SURFER were used to generatethematic maps for some tested parameters. Results indicate pH values withinacceptable range of 6.5 – 8.5, though shallow wells in Malindi were acidic,this atrributed to the heavy industries prevalent in the area. Electricconductivity (EC) was above the set standard of 1500µS/m indicating highdissolved ions present especially in Magarini where salt mining is done. Totaldissolved solids (TDS) of up to 500mg/L suitable for drinking water was onlyfound during the wet season. Turbidity of less than 5 NTU was established inmost areas. Chlorides and salinitylevels exceeded 250mg/L pointing to the saltwater intrusion problem that is achallenge along Kenyan coastal aquifers Boreholes and shallow wells had a total hardness ranging from 50mg/L-150mg/L indicating the water was ranging from being slightly hard to hardwater. Escheriria coli was present inalmost all the boreholes and shallow wells indicating the need to treat waterbefore use. Water Quality index (WQI) calculation indicate that groundwater isunsuitable for human consumption in dry season.
