| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on groundwater quality in rural areas of Tanzania, addressing the literature gap
on water quality data for sustainable rural development. Most rural communities in sub-Saharan
Africa depend on groundwater for their domestic use. Despite this importance of groundwater for
rural community development, limited research has been conducted on the physicochemical and
heavy metal content, creating a significant knowledge gap. The absence of such information raises
concerns about water quality in rural areas of Africa, posing potential challenges to public health
and community well-being due to the risk of groundwater contamination. To bridge this gap, a
comprehensive study was conducted to assess groundwater quality in a selected district, focussing
on physicochemical and heavy metal content in 19 boreholes across various villages. The Water
Quality Index (WQI) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed for providing a
detailed evaluation of groundwater quality. Results revealed a widespread acidity, iron, and
manganese in most boreholes, with 6 exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Tanzania Bureau standards (TBS) for Pb in rainy and dry seasons. Additionally, total dissolved
solids, chloride, and hardness surpassed WHO and TBS limits in a single borehole. One-way
ANOVA and paired t-tests confirmed significant differences (p < 0.01) among boreholes and
across seasons. Pearson’s correlation test found strongly significant dependences between pH and
iron, as well as hardness and manganese. Approximately 73.68% of water samples were classified
as poor and polluted water, rendering them unsuitable for drinking. Elevated heavy metals could
be attributed to the region’s geological features and mining activities. The study underscores the
need for pragmatic monitoring and treatment measures to address identified issues and ensure safe
drinking water for the community. | en_US |
