THE POTENTIAL OF WATER FROM KIPLOLOK BUBBLING SPRINGS IN NANDI COUNTY FOR USE AS NATURAL CARBONATED MINERAL WATER

Abstract

The demand for carbonated water in Kenya, just like the rest of the world, is on the rise, owing to increasing lifestyle diseases like obesity, which requires that for a healthy lifestyle a lot of carbonated water, should be taken throughout the day. This research was set to determine the quality of water from Kiplolok bubbling springs in Nandi County, Kenya. In addition, the research was to determine whether the water can be used as natural carbonated water. Six sampling points were identified; three bubbling points labeled as (P1, P2, and P4), a shallow well (P3), river (P5), and a spring (P6). A total of 60 samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. The samples were used for determination of selected cations and anions, indicator bacteria, carbonation and physico-chemical properties. The results indicated the water was contaminated with feacal and total coliforms in all the sampling points P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6. High turbidity was recorded in sampling points P1, P2, P4, while high amounts of iron and manganese above those recommended by WHO and KEBS for drinking water were recorded in most sampling points. The water recorded low pH values in both seasons for all but P5 sampling points with 6.8 and 6.37 in the rainy and dry seasons. The pH values for the other samples ranged between 3.41 -4.93 in the rainy season and 3.8-5.25 in the dry season. KEBS pH standards for carbonated water are at minimum pH of 4. The dissolved CO2 concentration of the water ranged from 1.20 g/L to 2.65 g/L in the rainy season and 1.50 g/L to 3.00 g/L in the dry season for all sampling points, conforming to the KEBS standards for carbonated water of at least 1 g/L but P5 recorded CO2 values of 0.5 and 0.4 g/L for rainy and dry season respectively. In conclusion, the results showed the water from all the sampling points except P5, contained sufficient dissolved carbon dioxide for use as naturally carbonated water. However, purification and treatment is necessary to lower the turbidity of the water, eliminate the microbial contaminants and adjust pH to at least 4, to conform to the KEBS recommendation for naturally carbonated water.