Anthropogenic Impacts on Karst Example of Lusaka

A study was aimed at assessing the anthropogenic impacts on Karst water in Lusaka’s Chainda peri-urban area on the quality of groundwater by physical, chemical and microbiological indicators. It was observed that concentrations of the Total and Faecal Coliforms in all the samples from the shallow wells and private boreholes were all above the Zambia Bureau of Standards. In terms of bacteriological quality, the water used for consumption in Chainda is poor. This poses great danger to human health. pH values of all the samples tested were within the Zambia Bureau of Standards.The study also revealed that the karst water in Chainda is high in nitrates due to lack of sanitation facilities. Nitrates concentration were above the Zambian Bureau of Standards of 10mg/l in all the shallow wells and private boreholes. While nitrate concentrations in water kiosks of LWSC are below ZABS.