Analysis of Kenyan drinking water
Opinya, G.N.; Pameijer, C.H.; Gron, P.
East African Medical Journal 64(3): 194-201
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 3665799 Document Number: 290481
In this study 21 water samples obtained from springs, wells and boreholes were analysed in particular for fluoride. Each water sample had a volume of 250ml. Spring water was found to have a fluoride concentration range of 0.2-1.2ppm; well water had a range of 0.2-0.3 ppm. Borehole water was obtained from small settlements in Nakuru and Naivasha areas in the Rift Valley and had a fluoride concentration range of 1.0-9.3ppm. In this study concentrations above 1.0ppm were considered high. Endemic dental fluorosis is of public concern in Kenya and has been associated with the high fluoride levels in domestic water. It can be determined after analysis of the data that domestic borehole water from the Rift Valley in Kenya needs desalination, defluoridation, flocculation and lead detoxificaiton prior to consumption by the population. There is need to systematically map out other sources of fluoride prior to determining the optimal fluoride concentration in drinking water for the Kenyan population.