Browsing by Author "Lewis, Earl W."

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    Monitoring groundwater quality in a Namibian rural settlement
    (2018) Lewis, Earl W.; Claasen, Tiffany
    Drinking water in rural areas is often contaminated due to poor sanitation practices, which cause problems such as diarrhea, polio and cholera. Rural water quality is a critical issue in Namibia because a great deal of the population lives in rural settlements. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of nitrate and some microbial parameters in borehole waters in 8 rural settlements in Hardap, Namibia. The tests were conducted in 2016 and the results compared to tests on the same boreholes in 2011. Parameters were determined using standard procedures. Water infrastructure and sanitation practices were also examined. Water parameters were compared to NamWater safe water drinking guidelines. The results revealed that sanitation practices need to be improved to avoid health risks. High levels of nitrate and coliform bacteria were identified as the most threatening contaminants that were determined.Water quality has deteriorated in these settlements since 2011, when only two of the boreholes yielded water unfit for drinking. In 2016 the number of unfit boreholes had increased to four. Systematic monitoring of groundwater quality, workshops on public health and sanitation practices, and improved sanitation facilities are recommended.
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    Nitrate and bacteriological assessment of groundwater in Omaheke region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Claasen, Tiffany; Lewis, Earl W.
    In Namibia, a large percentage of the population uses water from sources such as rivers, wells and boreholes. The quality and safety of such water sources is generally considered poor, and therefore is a potential health hazard. Groundwater in boreholes does not go through a treatment process and therefore the cleanliness of water is a major concern. The main objectives of the study were to analyze groundwater for nitrate and bacteriological content, i.e. total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Enterococci and E.coli, as well as evaluate sanitation practices. The study area included 8 farms on the C20 road to Aranos, Omaheke region. The nitrate and bacteriological results were compared with the guidelines for safe drinking water used by NamWater and World Health Organization (WHO). The results showed that Groot Ums was the only farm having water unfit for human consumption (Grade D), Cristiana 1 had water that had a moderate risk factor (Grade C) to human health, while the rest of the 6 farms had very safe drinking water (Grade A and B). Based on the findings, short and long-term recommendations on sanitation practices were made to help farmers with the current water situation.
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    Urban water management challenges and achievements in Windhoek, Namibia
    (IWA Publishing, 2019) Lewis, Earl W.
    This paper gives an overview of the main challenges and achievements faced by Windhoek’s water management sector. The paper highlights pertinent issues arising from increased water demand, and also explores current and future water supply augmentation options. Water planners experience management challenges as a result of a combination of factors, mainly, lack of funds and staff, limited expertise, poor communication between stakeholders, and weak regulation and enforcement. In order to meet these challenges, water managers need to develop more robust and resilient strategies, including a greater focus on water demand management.
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    Urban water management challenges and achievements in Windhoek, Namibia
    (IWA Publishing, 2019) Lewis, Earl W.
    This paper gives an overview of the main challenges and achievements faced by Windhoek`s water management sector. The paper highlights pertinent issues arising from increased water demand and also explores current and future water supply augmentation options. Water planners experience management challenges as a result of a combination of factors, mainly, lack of funds and staff, limited expertise, poor communication between stakeholders, and weak regulation and enforcement. In order to meet these challenges, water managers need to develop more robust and resilient strategies, including a greater focus on water demand management.
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    Using Benthic macro-invertebrates to assess ecological status of the Arbuga river in the, Sengiley Mountains, national park, Russia
    (2016) Lewis, Earl W.
    The objective of this study was to assess water quality of the Arbuga River in one of the National Parks in Russia, which is under severe stress from anthropogenic activities, using benthic macro-invertebrates as biological indicators. The study was carried out in 2012 and the findings were compared to an earlier study done in 2000. The indices used in the study to describe the invertebrate community species abundance were the Shannon-Weaver index and a density index (dominance). To assess the ecological status of the Arbuga River the Biotic Trent River Index was used. The results confirmed that the Arbuga River was in a moderately-polluted to critically polluted condition in some areas due to a range of anthropogenic impacts, at the time of the study. The health of the river had degraded from good to moderately-polluted since 2000 because of a range of anthropogenic factors.