Toxicologie environnementale et analytique

Water Quality and Plant Species Composition of Selected Sites within Chemususudam, Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Manohar S, Kitur EL and Kibet FC

Aquatic plant species and physico-chemicalparameters of Chemususu Dam, Baringo County, Kenya were studied from differernt sampling stationsD1, D2 and D3 situated in north west, south and north east directions of the dam respectively. There are only19 phytoplankton species (Nitzchiasp, Diatomavulgare, Synedrasp, Naviculasp, Oedogoniumsp, Spirogyra sp, Closteriumsp, Chodatellasp, Chlorella sp, Crucigeniasp, Pleurotaeniumsp, Gonatozygonsp, Closteriumaciculare, Pediastrumsp, Scenedesmussp, Cosmariumsp, Geminellasp, Ceratiumsp, Peridiniumsp). The common species present in all the sites were:Nitzchiasp, Scenedesmussp, Spirogyra sp, Chlorella sp, Ceratiumsp, Peridiniumsp, Gonatozygonsp, Synedrasp, and Navicula sp. In D1,Diatomavulgareand Cosmariumspin D2 were specific in these sites.Three emergent aquatic angiosperm species were present; Typhalatifoli aand Portulacaoleraceaare present at D1 site,while Aponogetona froviolaceus together with T.latifolia and P. oleraceaare at D2 site along the periphery of thiswater body. It is noticed that D3 sitetheseangiosperms are completely absent due to rocky habitat. Cynophytes arenot visible due to flow nutrient level and dam is also less than one year old. Theaveragevalues of chemical parameters (mg/l) are; nitrates 4.42±0.07, phosphates 4.23±1.17, sulphates 3.48±0.22, chloride 2.73±0.57, carbonates 8.6±0.7 and physical parameters such as conductivity 81.16μS/cm, dissolved oxygen is 4.2 mg/l,pH 6.77, turbidity 3.12 NTU and temperature is less than 21.5°C within the dam at an altitude of 2480 meters above the sea level. Based on currentphysico-chemical parameters and species composition, it is concluded that the water quality parameters of the dam meet the requirements for human consumption.