Spatial and Temporal Variations in Water Quality Along the Bua River, Malawi

Water quality in freshwaters are declining worldwide owing to increases human populations, expansion of agricultural activities, and climate change. There regions the world that understudied little no baseline information exists related water quality, such as Africa. We focused our work on Bua River, Malawi which supports sustenance fishing basic needs for local communities. A portion river has elevated levels protection because it is found within Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. evaluated at five sites River monthly from May 2018 June 2020 capturing three main seasons (warm wet, cool dry, hot dry) a provide understanding its both longitudinally over time identify possible pollution sources. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) varied with highest values mouth lowest upstream although other parameters did not vary spatially. However, there were greater differences across temperature, pH, chlorophyll a. For example, was higher during dry season (3.28µgL-1) compared (2.10µgL-1) warm wet (1.91µgL-1). transparency, measured by secchi depth season, coincides concentrations SRP. All measurements salt content, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity) correlated negatively Similarly, bicarbonate alkalinity also season. Principle Component Analysis indicated responsible variations mainly soluble minerals, surface runoff associated activities domestic waste accounting 78.49% total variance data set