Urbanization and Its Effects on Water Quality.pptx

urbanization and water quality

1. Urbanization and I ts Effects on Water Q uality Sahil Ram CHE 312: Aquatic Chemistry University of Fiji

2. Introduction Urbanization = city growth and land transformation Increase in impervious surfaces (roads, rooftops) Reduces natural infiltration and groundwater recharge Faster runoff carries pollutants into waterways Impacts rivers, wetlands, streams, and stormwater Stresses ecosystems and water quality

3. Urbanization and Water Pollution Pathways

4. Impervious vs Permeable Surfaces

5. Case Study : Tanzania, East Africa TN, TP, COD, nitrate, ammonium rise downstream. WQI drops in densely populated zones. Strong link between urban growth and pollution. Significance: Highlights challenges in rapidly urbanizing cities. Shows need for early monitoring and infrastructure investment.

6. Advances & Mitigation Green infrastructure: swales, biofilters , wetlands. Smart monitoring: sensors & real-time stormwater analysis. Urban forests & planning: improve filtration, reduce loads. Policy & integrated management: wastewater + land-use planning.

7. Conclusion Urbanization consistently degrades water quality. Nutrient pollution, pathogens, and WQI decline seen. Problem is global. Recommendations: Upgrade wastewater treatment. Regular monitoring and early-warning. Green infrastructure to reduce runoff. Pollution control in city planning.

8. References Mwegoha, W. J. S. et al. (2022). Assessment of Urban River Water Pollution with Urbanization in East Africa. Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 29, 23864–23878. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-021-18082-1 Yuan, T. et al. (2019). Urbanization Impacts the Physicochemical Characteristics and Abundance of Fecal Markers and Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 16(10), 1739. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6572354