INDUSTRIALIZATION AND WATER POLLUTION IN LESOTHO
Deepa Pullanikkatil (Lerotholi Polytechnic, Maseru, Lesotho)
deepa_pullani@rediffmail.com
Sub theme: Water and Environment
Government of Lesotho has been encouraging the manufacturing sector in order to
create much needed employment for its people and enhance economic growth for the
country. In spite of having a National Environmental Policy and a plethora of
legislations in place to control water pollution, currently, industrial wastewaters are
either discharged untreated (or with some rudimentary treatment) to the waterways or
to the sewerage system for treatment. This impact negatively on the receiving water
environment, as well as communities downstream of Lesotho, threatening some of the
most cherished features of Lesotho’s environment – including water courses used for
fishing, potable water and the ecosystem itself.
This research, conducted in the three industrialized areas of Lesotho, namely, Maseru,
Mafeteng and Maputsoe, investigates the extent and impacts of industrial pollution on
water quality, livelihoods and ecosystem sustainability and makes recommendations
for sustainable management of industrial waste water in Lesotho.
The methodology followed was a combination of carefully designed surveys, focus
group discussions and laboratory testing of water samples. Water samples from
waterways in the industrial (treatment) and non-industrial (control) areas of Lesotho
were tested and compared with international standards. Marked difference in water
quality in the industrialized areas as compared to control areas was found. Some of
the waterways downstream of the industry were polluted beyond international
standards, and had carcinogenic quality to name one of the ill effects.
The socio economic survey revealed that the communities living near the waterways
in the industrialised areas have been affected by the pollution in diverse ways. The
community was using the water from these natural sources for household use before it
was polluted and is now forced to search for alternative sources of water for which
they have to pay. Some incidences of livestock mortality and animals falling sick
after drinking the polluted water were also reported by the community.
The study has made recommendations for sustainable wastewater treatment solutions
and better implementation of policies and legislations related to water pollution in
Lesotho.