**2. Importance of water quality assessment and monitoring**

The assessment of water quality is very pertinent to both public health and aquatic life. Water quality has a significant impact on water supply and oftentimes determines supply options [6, 7]. The understanding and monitoring of sources and quality of water used for water supply is of societal, economic and conservational importance since per capita water demand is increasing while accessibility to freshwater availability is continuing to decline. Local water quality can be used to identify the sources and fates of toxic contaminants and pollutants either from ecology, geology, and anthropogenic activities (industrial processes, runoff from agricultural farms etc) in the area [5]. Identifying the source (s) of contamination and developing appropriate management strategies are essential to minimizing potential public health risks [8]. Moreover, data obtained via assessment and monitoring water quality provides empirical evidence to assist health and environmental decision making. In water management practices, water quality values serve as useful and sensitive indicators of changes in the physical, chemical or biological composition of the overall water status [9].
