Dr. Bernerd Fulanda

Dr. Joseph Kamau

Ms. Chepkemboi Labatt

Assessment of Faecal Pollution at

Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach,

Mombasa

By: Kodia Maxwell Azali

I114/0614/2010

Supervisors:

Presentation Overview

Introduction

Objective

Specific Objectives

Literature Review

Materials and Methods

Description of Study Site

Survey Design

Enterococci enumeration

E. coli enumeration

Data Analysis

Expected Results

Introduction

Sewage pollution is a major problem in many urban

settlements all over the world

65% of coast province has no access to a sewerage

system

Less than 30% of Mombasa county residents have access

to sewerage services

The county is serviced with two sewage treatment plants,

The Kipevu plant has been recently rehabilitated while

the Kizingo plant collapsed 20 years ago.

Introduction cont…

Faecal Enterococci and Escherichia coli (E. coli) have been

used as an index of faecal pollution in recreational waters.

Most Enterococci and E. coli species are not pathogenic but

are important indicators of faecal pollution and possible

presence of enteric pathogens.

Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach located at Bamburi is one of

the biggest open access recreational areas along the

coastal stretches of Mombasa county

Introduction cont…

The beach hosts many tourists both local and

international. The coastline is dotted with over 70 tourist

hotels

Raw sewage is discharged into the ocean by some of the

establishments.

Sewage pollution poses a major health risk to tourists

and resource users frequenting the beach and

contaminates marine life.

Objective

To investigate the extent of faecal pollution at Jomo

Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa county.

Specific Objectives

1. To investigate the degree of faecal pollution at Jomo

Kenyatta Public Beach

2. To investigate the variation in faecal pollution levels at

high tide and at low tide.

3. To explore the status of water quality at Jomo Kenyatta

Public Beach in reference to its potential for

recreational use.

Literature Review

Mombasa county waste and wastewater management is

inadequately wanting.

Pit latrines and soak-pits are used to dispose wastewater

contributing to ground water pollution

Septic tanks to be emptied by the county government but

this doesn’t happen

In the United States, an estimated 1.8 to 3.5 million

people suffer serious health issues from swimming in

sewage-contaminated waters.

Literature Review cont…

Globally sewage pollution causes 4 million deaths

Annually

Sewage pollution is compounded by

population growth that increases pressure on sewage

collection and treatment systems.

urban development that creates land impervious to storm

water.

climate change that increases the severity of storms during wet

weather.

Literature Review cont…

Pathogenic micro organisms in faecal matter cause

illnesses from short term stomach upsets to fatal

conditions such as heart inflammation.

Vulnerable populations face serious illnesses from the use

of contaminated recreational waters

Inadequately treated sewage contaminates filter-feeding

shellfish; the viruses and bacteria are bio-magnified in

these organisms to between 100 and 900x

Literature Review cont…

Sewage contaminated water leads to eutrophication in

receiving waters (BOD)

Turbidity occasioned by suspended solids in sewage stream

may shade sea grasses

Toxic organisms and metals in sewage stream can lead to the

death of marine life

Existing international water standards have not been widely

implemented in the WIO region

Nationally Kenya has set minimum water quality standards for

all its waters and for different uses

Literature Review cont…

Kenya’s water quality regulations prohibit the discharge of

pollutants into water (3rd Schedule)

The use of any natural body of water for recreational

purposes is also prohibited (10th Schedule)

Maximum permissible levels of total coliforms and faecal

coliforms in recreational waters are 500 and nil counts

per 100 ml respectively.

Enterococci are preferred for monitoring marine waters as

their densities correlate best to adverse health outcomes.

Materials and Methods

Enterococci and E. coli will be used to assess the extent of

faecal pollution at Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach.

Method 1600: Enterococci in Water by Membrane Filtration

Using membrane Enterococcus Indoxyl-β-D-Glucoside Agar

(mEI)

Method 1603: Escherichia coli (E. coli) in Water by Membrane

Filtration Using Modified membrane-Thermotolerant

Escherichia coli Agar (Modified mTEC)

Description of Study Site

Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach is located in Bamburi area,

Mombasa county.

It’s one of the biggest open access recreational areas

along the coastal stretches of Mombasa county.

Attracts resident resource users, local tourists and

international tourist and is an important source of

livelihood to the residents.

Development and unregulated beach activities have

increased pollution on the beach and the ocean

Description of Study Site cont…

Source: Tim K.

Survey Design

Samples will be collected bi-weekly for a period of 3 months.

Five sampling stations along the beach namely; Reef Hotel,

Kenya Wildlife Service, Pirates Beach Hotel, Hotel Sai Rock

and Serena Beach

At each station, samples will be collected from near shore

areas and areas further the shore at both high and low tide

Six water samples will be collected per station per tidal regime

at a depth of 15-30 centimeters.

Survey Design

Enumerated Enterococci and E. coli in sample volume will

be converted to colony forming units (cfu) per 100 ml of

sample

Count per 100 mL = (No. of colonies counted/ Volume of

sample filtered, in mL) x 100.

Enterococci Enumeration

Samples will be passed through a membrane filter

Filter placed on a modified selective membrane

Enterococcus Indoxyl-β -D-Glucoside Agar

Membrane will be incubated at 41+/- 0.50C for 24 hours

After incubation, colonies appearing with a blue halo

when viewed under a microscope are enumerated.

Membrane filters with developed count limits of 20 to 60

colonies per filter will be enumerated

Enterococci Enumeration

Source: U.S EPA Method 1600

E. coli Enumeration

Sample volumes will be passed through a membrane filter

Filter placed on a selective and differential medium,

Modified membrane-Thermotolerant Escherichia coli Agar

(Modified mTEC)

Membrane will be incubated at 35° C for 2 to 2½ h to

resuscitate injured or stressed bacteria

Then incubated at 44.5° C for 22-24h.

After incubation, colonies appearing red or magenta are

considered E. coli

E. coli Enumeration

Source: U.S EPA Method 1603

Enumeration

E. coli membrane filters with developed count limits of 20

to 80 colonies per filter will be enumerated.

For both:

Enumeration will involve viewing the membrane under a

stelescopic microscope or a magnifying glass 2-5x using a

fluorescent bulb held perpendicularly over the membrane.

Data Analysis

ANOVA will be used to:

Compare Enterococci and E. coli densities from the different

sampling stations

Compare samples within stations.

Compare samples collected during high and low tide.

The geometric mean of a minimum of five sample

volumes per 30-day period will be calculated.

Guidelines for recreational marine waters 35

Enterococci/100ml

Expected Results

Help deduce if Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach is safe for

recreational water use

Data and information gathered is useful to NEMA and

other stakeholders for strengthening the compliance and

enforcement of water quality regulations.