Effects Of Water Pollution In The Jukskei River

Introduction

The aim of this research project is to research the sources and concentrations of water pollution, such as nitrates, phosphates, pH level, e-coli and surfactants, in the Jukskei River. Water will be tested particularly in the area of the river in and around Alexandra Township, Johannesburg. As many of the people in Alexandra Township do not have easy access to running water or proper sanitation facilities and live in poverty, this project aims to make an assessment of eligibility of the Jukskei River water in growing a sustainable vegetable garden, for the community of Alexandra, in comparison to tap water. Thus specific research will take place on the impact of the pollution in the Jukskei River on the growth of a tomatoe plant. This will allow for accurate analysis into my research question by analysing the growth and health of the plant. Research will also be undertaken to see how people living in Alexandra affect/contribute to the pollution in the river. As well as how they are affected by the pollution of the water. This is all to be done with the expectation of proving that healthy and sustainable vegetables can be grown by families living in Alexandra using the river water available to them. This will help the community feed itself as well as promote a cheap, healthy and sustainable diet for the community.

Literature Review

This literature review aims to research the sources and concentrations of water pollution, such as nitrates, phosphates, e-coli and surfactants, in the Jukskei River, particularly the area of the river in and around Alexandra Township. Research is also undertaken to see how people living in Alexandra affects/contribute to the pollution in the river. As many of the people in A...

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...pace to grow the vegetables, they do not have enough municipal taps to easily access clean water and they do not see the Jukskei as a clean enough source of water to produce good crops. Although only 30 people were surveyed in this project and this is not a large catchment pool of data from Alexandra.

This shows that the only way for the people in Alexandra to grown sustainable, cheap and healthy gardens is that they start up communal vegetable plots where a municipal tap can be plumbed and used or people grow vegetables in the space around their home and used boiled and cooled Jukskei river water to water their plants. Although they would need to be educated on how to collect the water safely, sanitation and how to crow successful crops. A useful addition to this project could have been how successfully boiled Jukskei River water would have grown tomatoe seedlings.