The Likangala River originates at
Zomba mountain in southern
Malawi and flows through both urban and rural areas before it flows into
Lake Chilwa, a
wetland of international significance being a
UNESCO Biodiversity Reserve and
Ramsar site.[1][failed verification][2]
The river has a length of 50 km and flows along varying topography between elevations of 1265 m and 790 m above sea level. Its catchment covers 756 km2.[3]
It is an important river providing water for domestic uses and irrigation. It is also the river that provides water for the
Likangala Rice Irrigation scheme which was established in 1969, which caters to about 200 farmers and covers an area of 415 ha in size. Communities living in the catchment benefit from many provisioning services including wild foods, reeds, sand, stone, fish and wood.[4] Water quality of the Likangala varies along its length, and point and non-point sources of pollution impact on it.[5] Where it passes by the city
Zomba, effluent from the
waste water treatment plans joins the river causing discolorations and
algae growth.[6]
^Chidya, R. C. G.; Sajidu, S. M. I.; Mwatseteza, J. F.; Masamba, W. R. L. (1 January 2011). "Evaluation and assessment of water quality in Likangala River and its catchment area". Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C. 36 (14): 865–871.
Bibcode:
2011PCE....36..865C.
doi:
10.1016/j.pce.2011.07.070.
^Pullanikkatil, Deepa; Palamuleni, Lobina; Ruhiiga, Tabukeli (1 June 2016). "Assessment of land use change in Likangala River catchment, Malawi: A remote sensing and DPSIR approach". Applied Geography. 71: 9–23.
doi:
10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.04.005.