Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea
The Bumbu River Watershed is an essential source for the drinking and sanitation needs of settlement communities within Lae, Papua New Guinea. However, poor sanitation and waste management practices have led to concerns over the safety and integrity of the watershed’s resources. In this study, we ex...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/489 |
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| author | Willie Doaemo Mirzi Betasolo Jorge F. Montenegro Silvia Pizzigoni Anna Kvashuk Pandara Valappil Femeena Midhun Mohan |
| author_facet | Willie Doaemo Mirzi Betasolo Jorge F. Montenegro Silvia Pizzigoni Anna Kvashuk Pandara Valappil Femeena Midhun Mohan |
| author_sort | Willie Doaemo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Bumbu River Watershed is an essential source for the drinking and sanitation needs of settlement communities within Lae, Papua New Guinea. However, poor sanitation and waste management practices have led to concerns over the safety and integrity of the watershed’s resources. In this study, we explored the effect of these factors on water quality in the Bumbu river and its tributaries using water quality (22 sampling stations), geospatial (degree of urbanisation), and community survey (sanitation and hygiene practices) data. Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated based on the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) template using pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, mercury, manganese, iron, and Escherichia coli. Using geospatial techniques, principal component analysis, and forward regression analysis, we found that better water quality outcomes coincided with better community health conditions of Crime and Pollution, and better household health outcomes. Land-use itself was not significantly correlated with water quality, but distressingly, we found 19 of 22 water samples to be of “poor” quality, indicating a need for better community water regulation. The methodology and results presented can be used to inform policy decisions at the provincial/national level, and to aid future research activities in other watersheds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:19:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83c1333239064e7ea97f38721744ed80 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:19:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-83c1333239064e7ea97f38721744ed802023-11-16T18:23:24ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-01-0115348910.3390/w15030489Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New GuineaWillie Doaemo0Mirzi Betasolo1Jorge F. Montenegro2Silvia Pizzigoni3Anna Kvashuk4Pandara Valappil Femeena5Midhun Mohan6Department of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaUniversity of Liverpool Management School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZH, UKUnited Nations Volunteer, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaUnited Nations Volunteer, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaUnited Nations Volunteer, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaUnited Nations Volunteer, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae 00411, Papua New GuineaThe Bumbu River Watershed is an essential source for the drinking and sanitation needs of settlement communities within Lae, Papua New Guinea. However, poor sanitation and waste management practices have led to concerns over the safety and integrity of the watershed’s resources. In this study, we explored the effect of these factors on water quality in the Bumbu river and its tributaries using water quality (22 sampling stations), geospatial (degree of urbanisation), and community survey (sanitation and hygiene practices) data. Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated based on the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) template using pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, mercury, manganese, iron, and Escherichia coli. Using geospatial techniques, principal component analysis, and forward regression analysis, we found that better water quality outcomes coincided with better community health conditions of Crime and Pollution, and better household health outcomes. Land-use itself was not significantly correlated with water quality, but distressingly, we found 19 of 22 water samples to be of “poor” quality, indicating a need for better community water regulation. The methodology and results presented can be used to inform policy decisions at the provincial/national level, and to aid future research activities in other watersheds.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/489water qualityenvironmental factorsanthropogenic factorsSanitation and Hygiene (WASH)urbanizationBumbu River |
| spellingShingle | Willie Doaemo Mirzi Betasolo Jorge F. Montenegro Silvia Pizzigoni Anna Kvashuk Pandara Valappil Femeena Midhun Mohan Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea Water water quality environmental factors anthropogenic factors Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) urbanization Bumbu River |
| title | Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea |
| title_full | Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea |
| title_short | Evaluating the Impacts of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality in the Bumbu River Watershed, Papua New Guinea |
| title_sort | evaluating the impacts of environmental and anthropogenic factors on water quality in the bumbu river watershed papua new guinea |
| topic | water quality environmental factors anthropogenic factors Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) urbanization Bumbu River |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/489 |
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