High Fluoride Water in the Gilgil Area of Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

SUMMARY: Fluoride (F) levels were determined in 37 randomly sampled water sources in the Gilgil-Elementaita area and part of the Nakuru municipality in Nakuru County, Kenya using a F ion selective electrode. Lake water had F levels close to 200 ppm. Of the other sources, the highest mean F levels were in piped water (7.69 ppm) and borehole water (6.57 ppm). The level of water F appeared to increase with proximity of the source to the lakes in the region. There was also an apparent increase in the level of F in piped water compared to the original borehole water, which is ascribed to extensive evaporation during treatment and storage of piped water. With one exception, the river water had the lowest mean F concentrations (<0.1 ppm). These results indicate that most of the rivers in this region are relatively low in F and therefore are the safest sources of water for domestic and industrial use.