Assessing the impact of household waste disposal practices on water quality of Womba River. A case study from Sawla Town, Ethiopia

Table of Contents

1.1. Background of the Study

1.2. Statement of the Problem

1.3. Objective of the study

1.3.1 General Objective

1.4. Research Questions

1.5. Significance of the study

1.6. Scope of the study

1.7 Limitation of the study

1.8. Definition of Terms

1.9. Organization of the thesis

2.1 Urban Environmental problems

2.2. Sources and Types of Solid Wastes

2.3. Components of Solid Waste

2.4. Functional elements of municipal solid waste management Systems

2.4.1. Waste generation

2.4.2. Handling

2.4.3. Storage

2.4.4. Collection

2.4.5. Disposal

2.5. Sanitation practices

2.6. Waste Water Disposal

2.7. The Effect of Poor Waste Disposal System on Water Quality

2.8. Conventional Water Quality Parameters

3.1. Description of the Study Area.

3.1.1. Location

3.1.2. Topography and Drainage

3.1.3. Climate

3.1.4. Geology, Soil and Vegetation

3.1.5.Socio-Economic Background of Sawla Town

3.1.6. Demographic Characteristics

3.1.7. Settlement patterns

3.1.8. Economic Activities

3.1.9. Social and Physical Infrastructures

3.2. Research Design

3.2.1. Data Sources

3.2.2. Sampling Techniques and Sample Size Determination

3.2.3. Water Sample Stations and Sampling Techniques

3.2.4. Survey Data Collection Techniques

3.2.5. Household Survey

3.2.6. Interview

3.2.7. Field Observation

3.2.8. Data Analysis and Presentation

4.1. Demographic and Socio-Economic Data Analysis

4.1.1. Sex Distribution of participants

4.1.2. Age Distribution of Participants

4.1.3. Educational Status of the Sample household Heads

4.1.4. Household’s Average Monthly Income

4.2. Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste in Sawla Town

4.2.1. Municipal Solid Waste Sources in Sawla Town

4.2.2. Municipal Solid Waste Compositions in Sawla town

2.3. Municipal Solid Waste Management Practices

4.3.1. Solid Waste Storage and Handling Activities in Sawla Town

4.3.2. Solid Waste Collection in Sawla Town

4.3.3. Households Solid Waste Disposal System in Sawla Town

4.3.4. Sanitation facilities in Sawla Town

4.3.5. Potential Pollutant loading to Womba River

4.3.6. Water Quality Data Analysis and Presentation

4.4.1. Average Concentration of Pollutant Loads at Each Sampling Location

4.4.2. Comparison of Mean Variation between Sampling Stations

4.4.4. Measures to be taken to ontrol nappropriate waste disposal practices

5.1. Conclusions

5.2. Recommendation

Research Objectives and Focus

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of household waste disposal practices on the water quality of the Womba River in Sawla Town, Ethiopia. The research aims to evaluate how inadequate waste management and sanitation contribute to environmental contamination and public health risks in the region.

• Investigation of solid waste sources and their physical composition within the town.
• Assessment of current household waste disposal practices and sanitation facilities.
• Evaluation of potential pollutant loads entering the Womba River.
• Determination of the extent of water contamination related to poor waste disposal.
• Identification of potential mitigation measures to improve waste management and sanitation.

Excerpt from the Thesis

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the study, covering the background of waste management, the statement of the problem in Sawla Town, the study objectives, research questions, and the significance and scope of the research.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This section provides an overview of urban environmental problems, the sources and types of solid waste, functional elements of municipal waste management systems, and existing water quality parameters.

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter describes the study area, including its location, climate, and infrastructure, as well as the research design, data collection techniques, and sampling methods used.

CHAPETR FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION: This chapter presents the data analysis regarding the demographic characteristics of participants, solid waste management practices, and the findings of the water quality laboratory tests on the Womba River.

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This concluding chapter summarizes the main findings regarding the impact of waste disposal on the river and provides recommendations for improving waste management and sanitation in Sawla Town.

Keywords

Sawla, Womba, Contamination, Poor Waste disposal, Sanitation, waste water, water quality parameter, solid waste management, urban environment, pollutant loading, household waste, environmental health, Ethiopia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this study?

The study focuses on assessing how poor household solid waste disposal practices and inadequate sanitation in Sawla Town negatively impact the water quality of the Womba River.

What are the central themes of the research?

The central themes include municipal solid waste management, water quality analysis, sanitation practices, the environmental impact of urban waste, and the identification of mitigation strategies for Sawla Town.

What is the core research goal?

The primary goal is to investigate the sources and composition of solid waste in Sawla Town and determine the extent to which these wastes contaminate the Womba River.

What research methodology was employed?

The study used a mixed-method approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data through household surveys, in-depth interviews, field observations, and laboratory water quality testing.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The main body covers a literature review on urban waste issues, a detailed description of the study area, the results of household surveys regarding waste disposal habits, and an analysis of water quality parameters like turbidity, BOD, and fecal coliform levels.

Which keywords define this thesis?

Key terms include Sawla, Womba River, Solid waste management, Contamination, Sanitation, Water quality parameters, and Waste disposal practices.

How is the waste collected in Sawla Town?

Waste collection relies on small group associations using human and animal-powered transport (donkey carts) because there is a lack of municipal trucks and organized waste containers.

What did the water quality analysis reveal about the Womba River?

The analysis showed that the Womba River is highly polluted, exceeding international standards for turbidity, TSS, TDS, BOD, and fecal coliform, largely due to direct discharge of waste and sewage.

Why are toilets in the area often in poor condition?

Most toilets are simple pit latrines constructed from low-quality materials like wood and mud, making them susceptible to collapse during flood events.