Water quality around the cities is a global concern owing to the impact of the population density and industrial activities. Assessment of the
Caledon River (Mohokare), which flows along the periphery Maseru City, was carried out using a number of physico-chemical properties.
The data obtained shed considerable light to the effect of the textile industry on the water quality. There was generally much higher
increase in most parameters up to 900% at sampling site where textile effluents joins the river water (Tikoe-Thetsanae) compared to
‘Maliemere (a sampling site upstream of the city). There was however a slight decrease in other parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH) while
other parameters (silicates, nitrates and phosphates) did not seem to change or follow any particular pattern. Principal component analysis
indicated conductivity, turbidity and total dissolved solids as the most prominent variants accounting for major difference in the PC1 in
agreement with the comparison of relative amounts as a percentage of the ‘Maliemere sampling site. The major contributor along the PC2
was found to be the silicates. However, only the concentrations of phosphates were above the maximum contaminant level (0.74 compared
to 0.1 mg L-1 respectively) at all sampling points. Hence it is concluded that the water quality assessment shows a detrimental impact on the
quality of the water.
Key words: water pollution, physico-chemical properties, principal component analysis, Caledon River, Maseru
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