Water quality of the Odzi River in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe

For Odzi, the main river originating in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, the nature, sources and extent of pollution are characterised. Over a span of 9 months, the river water samples collected at six selected sites were analysed for Various physical and chemical parameters namely, temperature, conductance, pH, total suspended and dissolved solids, BOD, total phosphate and nitrate levels. The Mutare river carried the seepage from abandoned mine dumps to the Odzi River. Water quality of the Odzi River at different points assessed by the water quality indices (WQI) is compared. According to the quality indices during the study period, water quality in the upper reaches of the river was medium to good. It dwindled in the plains, due to the seepage from abandoned mine dumps and discharges from the farm lands. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.