Conclusions
The water quality varied along the transect and was affected by
surrounding landuse practices and the geology.Water from upland
wells had high concentrations of nutrients as well as high bacterial
loads and this was attributed to the proximity of these wells to pit
latrines/toilets and animal kraals. In the midslope, crop production
in the gardens could have also contributed to an increase in nutrients
and bacterial load in garden wells. It is concluded that in the
smallholder farming systems, upland water sources can be potentially
polluted from pit latrines, livestock holding pens and other
land uses such as cultivation, while crop production in dambos can
also increase water pollution from organic and inorganic fertilizer
application. However, the contribution of each land use system in
water pollution is currently unknown, and this calls for further
studies.
Fig. 7. Potassium concentrations at various sampling positions in the dry and wet
season.