Assessment of Spring Water Quality for Drinking Purposes: Case Study of Nyanza District, Southern Region of Rwanda

The study evaluates the quality of spring water in Nyanza District, Southern Region of Rwanda, focusing on physicochemical and microbiological parameters such as pH, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, and presence of Escherichia coli. Samples were collected during the rainy and dry seasons, using 20 spring sources based on discharge capacity and flow rate characteristics. Samples were tested at Laboratories of Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), and results were analysed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis against World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines (2017) and Rwanda Standards RS EAS 12:2018. Findings revealed that pH ranged from 5.24 to 8.71, temperature from 19.9°C to 24.2°C, and electrical conductivity from 48.35 µS/cm to 335.5 µS/cm. Microbiological results showed high variability in E. coli and total coliforms, ranging from <1×10⁰ to >100×10⁰ cfu/100 mL, indicating potential health risks. Heavy metals were detected at varying levels, with arsenic up to 0.019 mg/L, cadmium up to 0.018 mg/L, copper up to 1.657 mg/L, iron up to 2.533 mg/L, and lead up to 0.029 mg/L. The study found that some spring sources exceeded recommended limits, posing public health concerns due to microbial presence and heavy metals. Strengthening local capacity in water quality management and enforcing land-use regulations near water sources is recommended for safe and sustainable access to drinking water