TITLE:
Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters in Relation with Ecology of Bagrus bayad (Fabricius, 1775, Bagridae) in Lake Albert, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
AUTHORS:
Joseph Masirika Matunguru, Gabriel Mukabo Okito, Sharon Lubembe, Jonas Jariekong’a Uvon, Frank Lutili, Jean-Jacques Bagalwa Mashimango, Claver Sibomana, Mulongaibalu Mbalassa, Alex Lina, Venant Nshombo Muderhwa, Jean-Claude Micha, Gaspard Ntakimazi
KEYWORDS:
Physico-Chemistry, Water Quality, Lake Albert
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
22,
2022
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to assess the water quality of Lake Albert based on its physico-chemical characteristics in relation with Bagrus bayad ecology in the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The study undertaken between December 2019 and November 2020 in six stations (Drigi, Kicha ya Drigi, Grand Bale, Ingbokolo, Njerere and Songa Tabu) allowed the measurement of physical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature (T), Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), as well as the following chemical parameters Sulphates (SO42-), Chlorides (Cl-), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Hydrotimetric Titer or Total Hardness (TH), Ammonium (NH4+), Nitrates (NO3-), Nitrites (NO2-), Phosphates (SO43-) and Fluorides (F-), Potassium (K+), Sodium (Na+), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Dissolved Oxygen (DO). The annual mean values are compared with the standards for the survival of aquatic organisms. Multivariate statistical analysis including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Ascending Classification Hwaswere also applied to all measured parameters. The lake water is slightly basic with an average pH of 7.2 ± 0.4. It is slightly mineralized and less hard with an average conductivity of 96.9 ± 46.3 μS/cm and an average total hardness of 54.8 ± 12.3 mg/Nutrients pollution is a major indicator of the water quality of the stations studied. A strong correlation is reported between electrical conductivity and the following parameters: pH, NO32-, NO2-, SO4-, TH, Cl-, HCO3- and Ca2+. The typology is mainly governed by this conductivity, which allows us to classify the stations according to their physico-chemical quality. The lake water is subject to organic pollution in the 6 stations studied at Lake Albert. The physico-chemical parameters considered in this survey were within the limits of aquatic life and biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem, particularly for the survival and reproduction of aquatic species. The results suggest that, although the physico-chemical parameters are within the limits of aquatic life, they are subject to strong variations over time. Organic pollution index varied from 4.5 (Slight pollution) to 5 (Null pollution). Changes in land use and land cover around the basin and pollution from Lake Albert’s tributary rivers may be fatal to the life of biodiversity in the long term.