Water quality monitoring of river Nile using remote sensing and GIS :

Abstract

Water is an important natural resource of earth and plays a vital-role in our life. Surface water and groundwater are the major sources of Water. The surface water qualities of major river basins are contaminated by the municipal and industrial discharges. Mapping of spatial variability of surface water quality is of vital importance and it is particularly significant where it is primary source of potable water. In order to assess the water quality, the present study has been undertaken to map the spatial Variability of water quality using Geographical Information System (GIS) approach. The water quality of River Nile, unimportant domestic and potable water source of Uganda has been assessed in the present study. The water qualities of 2 sampling stations were randomly selected in Nile River Basin, eastern Uganda for the present study. GIS is a powerful tool for representation and analysis of spatial information related to water quality analysis. The spatial variation map for the major water quality parameters are generated arid integrated using, Arc GIS software. The final integrated map shows three priority classes such as Good, Moderate and Poor water quality zones of-the study area and provides a guideline for the suitability of water for domestic purposes Hence monitoring of surface water quality has become indispensable surface water quality depends on various parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC). Total dissolved Solids, Total hard-ness, Ammonia, Nitrate and BOD etc. The present study attempts to map the spatial variation of surface water quality parameters for the, Nile River Basin of Jinja District using GIS. GIS is an effective tool for water quality mapping and essential for monitoring the environmental change detection. The water samples were collected from 2 locations randomly distributed in the' study area. The physio-chemical parameters namely pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved solids, Total hardness, Ammonia, Nitrate and BOD of the samples were analysed. GIS is used to assess the existing condition of surface water quality and the, contaminated areas can be identified rot further monitoring and management, Also the, present 'Study encourages the stake holders of the river basin for its suitability for irrigation, industrial and also for drinking purposes.