Lake Victoria: will it support life tomorrow? A case for abatement of pollution and eutrophication of fresh waters.
The decline in the quality of water has been associated with human activities in both the catchments and near shore areas. The poor quality of Lake Victoria’s water is a result of discharges of untreated sewer and chemical wastes from urban centres as well as microbacterial and nutrient laden runoffs from pastoral agricultural land, shrub-lands, forests and municipal slums. The deterioration of Lake Victoria’s ecology is linked to the rapid riparian population growth and consequent livelihood activities associated with farming and urbanization. The review demonstrates that the Lake’s water quality has deteriorated to a point that it is no longer able to support aquatic life in the same way it did 40 years ago. The major driving force behind water quality deterioration is population increase. Deforestation, poor agricultural practices, over-stocking and grazing have all contributed to massive soil erosion that continues to convey sediments to the lake. The establishment of institutions that will encourage stakeholder participation in conservation and management of resources at the village, local, national and regional levels is essential for the sustainable utilization of the Lake’s resources. The riparian governments need to show both political will and policy direction through establishing policies that engage the public, and enforce existing rules and regulations that will address the water pollution concerns.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Book Section biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Pan African START Secretariat (PASS)
2006
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| Subjects: | Freshwater pollution, Eutrophication, Sedimentation, Biochemical oxygen demand, Nitrogen, Pesticides, Heavy metals, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/7363 |
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