Sediment pollution at the north end of Lake Tanganyika

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Periodical article

Title:	Sediment pollution at the north end of Lake Tanganyika
Author:	Vandelannoote, Alain
Year:	2002
Periodical:	Bulletin des séances = Mededelingen der zittingen
Volume:	48
Issue:	4
Pages:	515-527
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Congo (Democratic Republic of) Burundi
Subjects:	lakes water pollution erosion deforestation
Abstract:	Sediment pollution from accelerated erosion linked to basin deforestation is considered the most serious immediate environmental threat to Lake Tanganyika. Twenty-two rivers from the north-end of the lake (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo) were studied by the Regional Research Centre for Applied Hydrobiology (CRRHA) (1992-1996). Only four of them had an average concentration of suspended solids lower than the European directive for fish waters. Concentrations were especially high in rivers close to Bujumbura. The annual sediment input of the Ruziziz to the lake was massive, but probably affects the lake's ecology less than inputs from smaller affluents. Sediment pollution is generally assumed to be the consequence of erosion due to deforestation and bad agricultural practices, but other origins such as municipal and industrial discharges, outlets of hydroelectric power stations and anarchistic gravel and sand exploitations in river beds, can be as pernicious as erosion. Bibliogr., sum. in English, French and Dutch. [Journal abstract]