Abstract:
Rapid urbanization and industrialization, uncontrolled population growth, indiscriminate waste discharge and poor infrastructure are problems that African cities
are facing. This paper describes an exemplary case study from Jimma, south-west
Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted along the Awetu-Kito drainage
system in Jimma town to assess the level of pollution from urban dwellers and
related activities. The study indicates that the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) norms for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO) and
orthophosphates are not met downstream of the major industrial and institutional
activities. Small-scale industries, Jimma University and residential areas contributed
50, 15 and 23% pollution load on the river, respectively. It can be concluded that the
pollution effect in Jimma town is mainly as a result of the growing (uncontrolled)
industrial activities and not to discharge of household wastewater. Given the same
trends of urbanization and population growth, similar development (socioeconomic) indicators and similar climatic conditions, the key findings for Jimma are
transferable to other mid-sized African cities.
