Seasonal Variations in Physicochemical Properties of Water Quality of Sosiani River -Eldoret, Kenya

Water pollution is the change in physico-chemical and biological properties of water quality that is harmful to living things. It is caused by pollutants drawn from domestic, industrial and agricultural effluents. It can also be caused by inappropriate use of chemicals and haphazard disposal of waste. It has become a global concern due to effects on fauna and flora. Sosiani River traverses Eldoret town, draining effluent openly discharged. This river is an important source of industrial and domestic water for residents living in Eldoret, Turbo towns. The study assessed seasonal variations in physicochemical properties of river water. Water samples were collected from five (5) sampling points along Sosiani River for six months and analyzed using American Public Health Association water sampling and processing procedures. Data was managed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 20. Both descriptive and inferential statistics like analysis of variance, correlation and regression analysis were used in analysing the resultant data. Sosiani River exhibited high mean levels of turbidity at 32.6 ± 17.0 NTU, high biological oxygen demand at 61.9± 22mg/L, high chemical oxygen demand at 110.6 ± 39.0 mg/L, high total suspended solids at 135 ± 41.5 mg/L, high total dissolved solids at 160.0± 41.1mg/L. The physico-chemical properties of water quality varied significantly along Sosiani River and with changing seasons at P<0.005. The physico-chemical water parameters increase in concentration along the river up to midstream in town centre but decline downstream along the river up to Turbo town.