Lower Lufira Research Project

Only a few days after the kick-off in Lubumbashi, the field studies were conducted on the Lower Lufira River, 40 kilometres downstream of the Kiubo Falls.

During five intense days of hard work; samples from all sides of the river and soil from the sides were sampled, on different locations every day in a distance of 5 kilometres in an extreme inaccessible terrain.

In the evenings their daily samples were categorised.

As a part of the water quality assessments they did water measurements to identify oxygen levels, temperature, dissolve particle and conductivity.
Side rivers were localised to study how they influence the flood in the Lufira River. As well as spots of groundwater on the riverbanks have been identified.

Water samples are sent to laboratories to identify organic matters in the water. Heavy metals and other components will be tested as well. The fish analyses will give the researchers new data about fish behaviour and in general the diversity of species in the river. Analyses from the bottom of the river, called sediments, will give data about the size of particles and transport mechanism in the river and soil analyses will tell the researchers the origin of components in the river.

In the end of April the researchers will present their preliminary findings on a conference at the University of Lubumbashi.