Evaluation of water quality and eutrophication status of Hawassa Lake based on different water quality indices

Lake Hawassa is one of the major Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes having an endorheic basin system. The surrounding community makes use of the lake water for the multiple purposes of irrigation, domestic water supply, recreation and fish harvesting. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the water quality of the lake in terms of water quality indices (WQI) and its health over a period of three months covering both dry and wet seasons. Overall, the water quality of Lake was unfit and bad as per the weighted arithmetic method (120.06-228.29) and modified Bascaron water quality index (MBWQI) methods (26.81-33.89), respectively. However, the quality was indicated as marginal, as per the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality index method (44.2-51.1). On average, the lake was under the hypertrophic stage as per the standard based on the results of Secchi depth and nutrient concentration. The current study showed the lake being unfit for all-purposes as per WAWQI range (> 100). According to the physicochemical and biological parameters, of the lake, it requires mitigation measures to control Eutrophication and pollutants inflow.

Automated summary

The study revealed that Lake Hawassa has poor water quality overall, according to various water quality indices. The lake is in a hypertrophic stage and requires measures to control eutrophication and pollutants inflow.