Heavy Metals analysis in Koche River and Associated Impacts on the Adjacent Community, Tatek Industrial Zone, Ethiopia

This study was determining the levels of some heavy metals in Koche River and the associated impacts on the adjacent community, Tatek Industrial Zone, Ethiopia. Water samples were taken from 12 sampling sites. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview and secondary data sources were also used to collect additional data. The heavy metals were determined using flame AAS. Heavy metals detected from all sampling sites were Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. The concentration of Cr, Fe, Mn and Cu were found above the maximum permissible limit of WHO (1984) for drinking and irrigation water at most of the sampling sites. Wastewaters discharging from the industries are the major polluting sources (96.1%) of the river water. Respiratory diseases were the most common diseases affecting the people in the area (56.6%) followed by dermatitis/skin diseases (31.6%). This calls for an effective management at the pollution source and continuous monitoring of the river quality is very imperative to minimize its impacts on the society. Keywords— Heavy metals, Industrial wastes, Koche River, Tatek Indusial Zone, Wastewater treatment