Anthropogenic impact assessment on the water quality of Umhlathuze River in KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Umhlathuze River and its three main tributaries experiences various anthropogenic activities including agriculture, urbanization and industrialization before forming an estuary with the Indian ocean. The current study assessed the potential impact of these anthropogenic activities over a 12-months period in 2023/4. The study found that elementary levels were mostly within the permissible limits along Umhlathuze River, but the impact of anthropogenic activities along its tributaries was evident. Chlorides ranged between 400 and 655 mg L^-1 along the Mholweni tributary during the rainy season while Na, Mg and Ca were also consistently above permissible limits along Mhloweni and Ntambanana tributaries. Among non-toxic trace elements, only Fe exceeded its health-based precautional va

SUBMITTER: Bhengu MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540590 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature