A Comparative Study Of Water Quality Between Hot Spring And Borehole Waters Of Selected Regions In Northern And Central Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This dissertation reports on a comparison of the physico-chemical parameters

between hot springs and borehole waters. Thirty four samples were collected at

Mara, Shinyanga, Singida, Manyara and Dodoma in Tanzania. Multimeter used for

the analysis of physical parameters pH, EC, TDS, salinity and turbidity.

Titrimetricmethods were used for chemical parametersCl−, total hardness, Ca2+ and

Mg2+. UV-Visspectrophotometricfor NO3

− , SO42− , F− , Fe2+and Mn2+ and Flame

Atomic Absorption for Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and K+. The EC, TDS, salinity,

turbidity, Cl− , NO3

− , SO42− , F− , Mn2+ and Cu2+ are higher (EC= 508.33-15334

μS/cm, TDS=249.33-7526.67 mg/L, salinity=0.27-8.67 ppt, turbidity=0.4-513.73

NTU, Cl− =54.32-3577.62 mg/L, NO3

− = 0.00-63.30 mg/L, SO42− =11.83-1353.33

mg/L, F−=0.18-18 mg/L, Mn2+=0.6-2.0 mg/L and Cu2+=0.36-0.93 mg/L) in hot

springs than borehole waters (EC = 270.0-2674.64 μS/cm, TDS=123.67-1305.0

mg/L, salinity=0.3-1.37 ppt, turbidity=0.55-147.88 NTU, Cl− =6.25-356.50 mg/L,

NO3

−=0.91-39.25 mg/L, SO42−=28.92-493.33 mg/L, F−=0.18-3.0 mg/L, Mn2+=0.3-

1.70 mg/L and Cu2+=0.27-0.64 mg/L). Other parameterstotal hardness, Ca2+, Mg2+

Fe2+ and Ni2+ are higher in borehole waters than hot springs. Thet-test (p=0.05)

showed that there is significant difference of the parameters pH, EC, salinity, TDS,

F− and Ni2+ between hot spring and borehole waters. Some of the parameters are at

higher levels than permissible values for both hot spring and borehole waters.

Therefore, there is a need of treatment for these waters before using for domestic

purpose.

Key words: Hot spring water, borehole water, physico-chemical parameters,

Northern and Central Tanzania, titrimetry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and FAAS

methods.