Public Perceptions of Water Quality in the Lake Bunyonyi Sub-Catchment, Western Uganda

• DOI: 10.4314/tjs.v49i3.15
• Publication Date: 2023-10-20T14:36:00Z
• Authors: Alex Saturday; Thomas J. Lyimo; Siajali Pamba; Susan Kangume; Jeniffer Turyatemba
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; 14. Life underwater; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water; 12. Responsible consumption

Lake Bunyonyi ecosystem plays vital roles in water resource conservancy and tourism. Nevertheless, the rapid increase human population unrelenting activities are threatening values, functions, ecological integrity of lake. In this study, public perceptions drinking quality its health implications Sub-catchment, Western Uganda presented. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to 267 respondents living within one Kilometre away from lake shores. Besides, observation interview methods were used complement data collected by method. Results indicate that prominent around peasantry small-scale businesses attributed soil fertility rural Despite being a popular source sub-catchment, suffers diffuse pollution little has been done avert it. This study recommends regular surveillance testing people’s awareness quality. local authorities should train people alternative environmentally-friendly farming practices like afforestation with correct tree species agro-forestry vegetation cover reduce erosion debris washed into system. Environmental-friendly household treatment (biosand filtration solar disinfection) be promoted improve water.