Browsing by Author "Moturi, Wilkister Nyaora"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Assessment of physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater among different farm sizes in Ainabkoi sub-county, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
    (Acadamic Journals, 2018-11-30) Kitonga, Lydia Mbula; Moturi, Wilkister Nyaora; Mwonga, Samuel Mutuku; Taabu, Isaiah
    Access to quality drinking water is of major concern for sustainable development in developing countries with regard to physico-chemical properties. Groundwater from shallow wells is the main source of domestic water supply for the community of Ainabkoi Sub-County of Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. Seasonal agricultural production activities expose the water to possible pollution. In this regard the study aimed to assess the seasonal physico-chemical parameters in shallow wells among different farm sizes in three wards within Ainabkoi sub-county. Each ward was a homogenous stratum of same size-ranged farms classified as large, medium and small farm sizes in Ainabkoi, Olare and Kaptagat (Kipsinende) wards respectively. Within each ward farms were purposively and randomly selected such that only accessible farms that had access to either a privately owned or communal wells were selected. Wells were sampled during the wet and dry seasons of the year for a period of two years. The seasonal levels of physico-chemical parameters pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity and temperature were determined. There were non-significant differences between the farm sizes in the groundwater pH, EC, DO, turbidity and temperature. The groundwater pH values were within the WHO standards range of 6.3 to 8.5. EC values were below the recommended limits of potable water of 250 µccm-1. TDS and TSS differed significantly between farm sizes. Wells within the small mixed farm sizes had significantly high TDS levels ranging from 30-250 mgL-1. The TDS values ranged from 32.20-203.30 mgL-1 hence the wells can be classified as fresh water wells. TSS values were significantly higher during the wet season by about 90% and highest in wells within the large sized farms. The turbidity levels were higher than the recommended limits by WHO of at least 5.0 NTU in areas with limited resource availability. In conclusion, the groundwater in Ainabkoi sub-county can conservatively be categorised as safe for domestic use with regard to physico-chemical parameters.   Key words: Farm sizes, groundwater, season; physico-chemical properties.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Environmental Degradation’s Effect on the Gains Made in SDG6
    (Springer International Publishing, 2021-02-23) Moturi, Wilkister Nyaora
    Water is a vital limited resource for humanexistence, and the availability of adequate andsafe water ties strongly with the sustainabledevelopment concept. In the last 100 years, thedemand for water has increased six times andcontinues to grow at an annual rate of 1%(WWAP 2018). Sustainable Development Goal 6sets out to ensure availability and sustainablemanagement of water and sanitation for all.Water connects us all and is embedded in almostall the other SDGs, particularly those dealing withfood, energy, and the environment. It links theweb of the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets. Nolonger can water be addressed as a separate ele-ment in isolation from the other goals. But thisinterconnectedness has important implications. Itmeans that the Water Goal will only be achieved ifthe other goals are attained, and in turn, that otherSDGs will only be achieved if the water goal isattained (Ait-Kadi 2016).
  • Publication
    Publication
    Open Defaecation and Its Effects on the Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water Sources in Isiolo County, Kenya
    (Sage Journals, 2017-09-09) Okullo, Joab Odhiambo; Moturi, Wilkister Nyaora; Ogendi, George Morara
    Background information: The post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals for sanitation call for universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation and an end to open defaecation by 2030. In Isiolo County, a semi-arid region lying in the northern part of Kenya, poor sanitation and water shortage remain a major problem facing the rural communities.Objective: The overall aim of the study was to assess the relationship between sanitation practices and the bacteriological quality of drinking water sources. The study also assessed the risk factors contributing to open defaecation in the rural environments of the study area.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 150 households was conducted to assess the faecal disposal practices in open defaecation free (ODF) and open defaecation not free (ODNF) areas. Sanitary surveys and bacteriological analyses were conducted for selected community water sources to identify faecal pollution sources, contamination pathways, and contributory factors. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS (descriptive and inferential statistics at α = .05 level of significance).Results: Open defaecation habit was reported in 51% of the study households in ODNF villages and in 17% households in ODF villages. Higher mean colony counts were recorded for water samples from ODNF areas 2.0, 7.8, 5.3, and 7.0 (×103) colony-forming units (CFUs)/100 mL compared with those of ODF 1.8, 6.4, 3.5, and 6.1 (×103) areas for Escherichia coli, faecal streptococci, Salmonella typhi, and total coliform, respectively. Correlation tests revealed a significant relationship between sanitary surveys and contamination of water sources (P = .002).Conclusions: The water sources exhibited high levels of contamination with microbial pathogens attributed to poor sanitation. Practising safe faecal disposal in particular is recommended as this will considerably reverse the situation and thus lead to improved human health.