[01] Niyomufasha Olive, Option of Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali City, Rwanda.

The water is a key important of natural resource which is very important to all ecosystems on the planet. Currently there is a less studies that look on water quality variation due to the growth that surrounds. Therefore, this research was conducted in order to assess the potential influence of urban increase on water quality of Sebeya river located in Rubavu district, western province of Rwanda. Five composite samples were collected in three sites located in 3 cells such as Mahoko. Musabike, and Kamuhoza located in Kanama sector. Samples analysis were conducted in laboratory located in Research Center for Natural Resources and Environment at UNILAK. Five water indicators comprising pH, Zinc, Total Nitrogen Total Phosphorous and Chromium have been analyzed and used as a test of significance for laboratory results. The human activities are negatively influencing the water quality indicator pH hence the increased human driven activities are decreasing the water body pH by 24 percent through absorbing the carbon dioxide resulted from these activities leading to the water body to become acidic consequently. Because urbanization is expanding very quickly in Kanama sector, the research found that there is an effect of urban increase on water quality of Sebeya River. Not only human activities can negatively affect the river, on the other side it is recommended that the water quality of the river can be preserved by the human activities resulting from the urban increase like soil erosion prevention and green practices.

Water Quality, Urban Increase, Sebeya River Catchment, Water Pollution

[01] Akbulut, M. K.-O. (2019). Assessment of Surface Water Quality in the Atikhisar. Ekoloji, 19, 139–149. [02] BABONA, M. N. (2020). Analysis of flood resilience participatory GIS approach monitoring flood and interventions: Case study of Sebeya catchment. Springer Link. [03] Csilla Stenger-Kova´cs, E. L. (2020). Effects of land use on streams: traditional and functional analyses of benthic diatoms. Springer. [04] G. Nduwayezu, R. S. (2016). Modeling urban growth in Kigali city Rwanda. Life and Natural Sciences. [05] GD Moukandi N'kaya, D. O. (2020). Recent budget of hydroclimatology and hydrosedimentology of the Congo River in Central Africa. Springer. [06] Kayitesi, C. (2019). Spatio-temporal analysis of urban growth and its impacts on Rwampara wetland in the City of Kigali Rwanda. Springer Link. [07] Minstry of Environment. (2019). Sebeya Catchment plan. Kigali: Ministry of Enviroment. [08] Nduwayezu, G. (2020). Modeling urban growth in Kigali city Rwanda. Enschede: University of Twente. [09] Prakash C, T. B. (2019). Challenges of Urban Growth in Himalaya with Reference to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Mitigation: A Case of Nainital Town in Kumaon Middle Himalaya, India. Springer Link. [10] Rinta, P. (2009). Modelling nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to Lake Kivu, Central Africa. Turku: University of Turku. [11] Rosine Angelique UWACU, O. J. (2019). Impacts of Land use on Water Quality in the Sebeya Catchment Area, Rwanda. Journal of Environment and Health Science. [12] Rubavu district. (2019). Summary of Rubavu district developement strategy. Rubavu: Rubavu district. [13] UNEP. (2019). A Snapshot of the World’s Water Quality: Towards a global assessment. Nairobi: UNEP. [14] United Nations. (2019). Wastewater the untapped resources. Paris: United Nations. [15] United Nations. (2019). World urbanization prospects. New York: United Nations. [16] United Nations. (2021). World population review. New York: United Nations. [17] Wenjun Zhao & Xiaodong Zhu, X. S. (2019). Water quality changes in response to urban expansion: spatially varying relations and determinants. SpringerLink.