SUITABILITY OF BASIC WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS FOR AQUACULTURE IN UGANDA

Shamim Naigaga*, Claude E. Boyd and Joseph Molnar
 School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
 Auburn University
 Auburn, AL 36849
 szn0030@auburn.edu
 

In Uganda, aquaculture is a promising commercial venture with untapped potential to provide fish for food as well as an alternative livelihood. However, less attention has been given to water quality as a way of improving aquaculture production in Uganda. The main objective of this study was to assess a suitability status of the quality of Ugandan water sources for Nile tilapia and African catfish farming. Water samples were collected from pond water sources in 20 districts in four regions (Central. Eastern, Northern, and Western parts of Uganda) which were representative of the different climatic zones in Uganda. Water samples were analyzed for specific conductivity, total hardness, calcium hardness, pH, and total alkalinity, and compared by one-way ANOVA with post-hoc multiple comparison. The pH was rather high in some waters and especially in the Eastern region. Waters with pH consistently above 8.5 or 9.0 are not suitable for aquaculture. Total hardness and calcium hardness were usually within the optimum range of 50-150 mg/l, total alkalinity was also within optimum range of 50-150 mg/l apart from the central region. Nevertheless, some water had less than 30 mg/l total alkalinity and pH of less than 6.5, therefore should be treated with lime. Specific conductivity concentrations were all above desired range of 150 µS/cm. There were statistical differences in the total alkalinity and specific conductivity concentrations of the northern region from the other regions (F = 4.18, p = 0.0075. F = 4.15, p = 0.0078, n = 30 at 95% confidence interval, respectively).