The impact of the floral industry on water pollution in Kenya

Adam Kraus

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Kenya belongs to countries which suffer from a lack of clean water. A large number of population have difficult or even no access to clean water sources. The pollution of Kenyan water sources is caused by relatively developed industry and agriculture which is a significant source of livelihood for a vast majority of the local population. Of course, the consumption of water from lakes and rivers by both these spheres results in its contamination and decrease. The quality of water is also negatively affected by poor or even missing sewage system in local cities and villages. There are several ways to get clean water, drinking water or at least utility water from natural resources. This bachelor thesis is focused on the floral industry and floral farms, many of them to be found in Kenya and their impact on pollution of environment. The aim of this essay is to suggest the technology method for water purification from these farms. The largest and most known floral farms are situated in the vicinity of Naivasha Lake, several others are located near Kenya's capital Nairobi and Nakuru Lake and town and also near the town Limuru or Western province. Kenya is an enormous grower of cut roses, gerberas, chrysanthemum and gillyflowers. The flower planting cannot however work without use of harmful and poisonous chemicals, which endanger the human health and influence the water around the farms. The farms also generate a great deal of fallout and sediment. Wastewater is not usually cleaned here, therefore the sewage triggers the contamination of soil, rivers, lakes and underground water.

Keywords

floral industry, floral farms, water pollution, technology for water purification, Kenya, lack of water, drinkable water

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 9. 4. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Vladimír Krepl, CSc.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Agricultural Specialization / Agriculture in Tropics and Subtropics