ASSESSMENT OF ASSESSMENT OFTHE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SAND MINING ON THUCHILA RIVER

Thuchila River is one of the many rivers in Malawi that supports many anthropogenic activities which include irrigation, sand mining, laundry, hygiene and waste disposal. Sand mining is one of the anthropogenic activities that has been noted to cause many environmental issues in river ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental impacts of sand mining on the Thuchila River.
The study approach involved Image analysis and water sample analysis. Firstly, water samples were strategically collected in well-labelled containers and sent to AgriLab for analysis of physical and inorganic chemical parameters. Secondly, aerial photographs were taken on the area and analysed.
Firstly, the findings suggest that the water from the river is safe for human consumption and irrigation as all the constituents except iron were within the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Irrigation Organisation (FAO) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) acceptable levels. Additionally, the findings suggest that the disturbance at the mining site cause anomalous changes in the trends of physical and inorganic chemical parameters. Secondly, the image analysis findings suggest that the development of the mining site and the extraction of sand affect many aspects of the landscapes.
This study however was limited to a single mining site. It would be interested to extend the study to several sites along the river in order to assess whether the findings can be replicated.

Thuchila River is one of the many rivers in Malawi that supports many anthropogenic activities which include irrigation, sand mining, laundry, hygiene and waste disposal. Firstly, the findings suggest that the water from the river is safe for human consumption and irrigation as all the constituents except iron were within the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Irrigation Organisation (FAO) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) acceptable levels. Secondly, the image analysis findings suggest that the development of the mining site and the extraction of sand affect many aspects of the landscapes. It would be interested to extend the study to several sites along the river in order to assess whether the findings can be replicated.

The study was conducted on the Thuchila River. Thuchila is a stream which is in Thyolo district, Southern Region, Malawi. It also acts as an antecedent boundary between Thyolo and Mulanje. The estimated terrain elevation above sea level is 529 metres. It is located within the coordinates: Latitude=16° 13’ 0” S and Longitude= 35° 16’ 59” E. According to Köppen Climate Type Code, it is in the Tropical Wet Savannah. This research focused on the part of the river that flows through the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Ngolongoliwa which is on the north-western part of Thyolo District.

Traditional authority: Luchenza Town

District: Thyolo

Coordinates: -16.00675, 35.3079