Assessment of Fluoride concentration and physicochemical properties of Domestic water supplied in Sironko Town Council.
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Date
2024
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Busitema University
Abstract
The utilization of water increases extremely with the human needs. If there are no proper recycling and reuse, then there is an increased possibility of water scarcity relative to human water needs. It is essential to use ground water because it is available as fresh water. However, it is important to study physicochemical properties of water such as pH, temperature, turbidity, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and fluoride concentration before its use to ascertain whether such water is fit for human use. This study established such properties by taking water samples from boreholes, taps, and river Sironko in Sironko Town Council. The results obtained were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO), for drinking water. The results of parameters obtained, for the samples considered, ranged between; pH (6.5 – 8.5), temperature (25.5 – 30oC), turbidity (0.195 – 25.8 NTU), EC (108.9 – 620.7 µS/cm), TDS (54.45 – 326.13 mg/L) and fluoride concentration (0.006 – 1.250 mg/L). The results indicated that fluoride concentration in some sampling areas was above permissible limits probably due to contamination. Also, from the average weather temperature of eastern Uganda of about 31C and t֯ he geology of the areas, known to contain ores of phosphorus, iron, calcium, and many others whose dissolution increases mineralization which makes the intake of water high, increases the exposure to the fluoride ions and also increases the dissolution of fluoride ions containing the minerals making the drinking water of Eastern Uganda unsafe for drinking. This implies that the local population is exposed to toxic effects of excess fluoride ions.
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Watwati, B. (2024). Assessment of fluoride concentration and physicochemical properties of domestic water supplied in Sironko Town Council. [Research report]. Busitema University.