Potential of water laboratories` Climatic, anthropogenic, and geogenic water pollutants testing performance for ambient water quality management
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ambient water quality is unceasingly deteriorating due to climatic, anthropogenic, and geogenic (CAG) factors, hampering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.3 in many African countries. The CAG water pollutants testing is crucial for setting relevant water quality management measures. However, the CAG pollutants testing performance in water laboratories remains a matter of concern in various African countries, including Tanzania. This study employed a literature review and a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the CAG pollutants testing performance of 17 laboratories designated for water quality testing in Tanzania. The evaluation focuses on CAG parameters presented in SDG 6.3.2, which include: Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Salinity, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, pH, Fluoride, Arsenic, Pesticides, Phytoplankton Chlorophyll a, Turbidity, and E. coli. The World Health Organisation Laboratories Assessment Checklist (WHO-LAT) was used in the data collection. A descriptive data analysis using Excel (Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021) revealed that laboratories` CAG testing performance ranges from 51% to 81%, with an average of 64%. These results imply that about 36% of CAG pollutants may go undetected or underreported. This condition can significantly jeopardise water quality improvement measures. The laboratories' CAG testing performance should be improved to ensure sustainable ambient water quality management.
Source: Scientific African
Institution: Ardhi University
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $590
OpenAlex ID: W4415899599