New Water Policy and Practice Volume 1, Number 2 - Spring 2015 | Page 42

Environmental Pollution Potential within the Burl River Basin of Liberia, West Africa

contribution to river pollution. Nimba, as a region, appears to be contributing higher
in terms of pollution. Since this is the upstream of the river, it implies that in the long
term, the whole river system gets polluted as a result of pollutant travel downstream.
The EPP provides a strategic based decisions support for prioritizing efforts in the basin
towards a river remediation programs. In this case, the efforts in the Nimba and Bong
counties need to be emphasized.

According to Clarke (1996), measurement and mathematical analysis of the
configuration of the earth’s surface and the slope dimension of its landforms are needed
to understand the essential means in geomorphic study of the area. This understanding,
though simple, is germane to determining surface erosion, slopes, and relative relief
and terrain characteristics. The morphometric studies of different basins have been
done by various scientists using conventional methods (Horton, 1945; Smith, 1950;
Strahler, 1957) and earth observation data and GIS methods (Chopra et al., 2005). The
importance of GIS analysis in the construction of maps showing the distribution of
climatic elements has strongly increased during the last decade as many papers and
projects reveal (Dyras and Serafin-Rek 2005; Dyras et al. 2005; Ustmul and Czekierda
2005; Wel Van der 2005; Bac-Bronowicz and Nobuyuki, 2007; Irimia and Patriche,
2009). Similarly, the analysis and construction of maps in this study employed Diva-GIS
and STRM 90m digital elevation model to determine the land-use, soil and the slope
of the study area. The slope of the study area is measured in geometric mean ranging
from 2 to 10. 2 on the scale represent flat, 5 accounts for gentle slope while 10 represents
a medium slope. This is an indication that the basin is characterized by flat, gentle
and medium slopes. However, it was recorded that the terrain is predominantly flat,
meaning that the slope of the area contributes greatly to the Burl basin pollution. The
soil and land-use were both determined as a major contributing environmental factor
influencing the Burl basin Pollution. Accordingly, the soil is mostly loamy. Though, at
some point, it is shown to be sandy, silt with clay and gravel which supports mining
activities. The soil map also shows that the soil is loose due to forest clearing activity
during farming and as such, is prone to erosion and run-off carrying debris into surface
water.

Predominantly, subsistence farming is a major activity carried out along the
Burl basin. This is as a result of the extremely dense populated nature of the basin. These
activities are among other environmental factors ballooning the Burl River pollution in
Liberia. As indicated above, the Kpaytuo Community, particularly Bawotuo is a major
Community chiefly engaged in subsistence farming and pit-sawing activities. These
activities have over time exposed the river to eutrophication, thereby damaging the
numerous water uses (which includes domestic, recreational, and industrial), as well
as endangering aquatic lives. The farming practices carried out in the area induced
deforestation or forest clearing leaving the river system vulnerable as the soil often lost
its holding capacity resulting to erosion. Accordingly, the land in the study area is flat
and loamy. During the rainy seasons, more diffused load of impurities is emptied into
the river as a result of run-off. This means that the flat and loamy soil lacks the ability
to retain the water quantity, and over time, seepages and overflow of non retained loads
with various sorts of pollutants are cascaded into surface water bodies.
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