@article{fdi:010053124,
  title = {{L}and use and water quality along a {M}ekong tributary in {N}orthern {L}ao {PDR}},
  author = {{R}ibolzi, {O}livier and {C}uny, {J}uliette and {S}engsoulichanh, {P}honexay and {M}ousqu{\`e}s, {C}laire and {S}oulileuth, {B}ounsamay and {P}ierret, {A}lain and {H}uon, {S}. and {S}engtaheuanghoung, {O}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}mproving access to clean water has the potential to make a major contribution toward poverty reduction in rural communities of {L}ao {P}.{D}.{R}. {T}his study focuses on stream water quality along a {M}ekong basin tributary, the {H}ouay {X}on that flows within a mountainous, mosaic land-use catchment of northern {L}ao {P}.{D}.{R}. {T}o compare direct water quality measurements to the perception of water quality within the riparian population, our survey included interviews of villagers. {W}ater quality was found to vary greatly depending on the location along the stream. {O}verall, it reflected the balance between the stream self-cleaning potential and human pressure on the riparian zone: (i) high bacteria and suspended load levels occurred where livestock are left to free-range within the riparian zone; (ii) very low oxygen content and high bacteriological contamination prevailed downstream from villages; (iii) high concentrations of bacteria were consistently observed along urbanized banks; (iv) low oxygen content were associated with the discharge of organic-rich wastewater from a small industrial plant; (v) very high suspended load and bacteria levels occurred during flood events due to soil erosion from steep cultivated hill slopes. {B}esides these human induced pollutions we also noted spontaneous enrichments in metals in wetland areas fed by dysoxic groundwater. {T}hese biophysical measurements were in agreement with the opinions expressed by the majority of the interviewees who reported poor and decreasing water quality in the {H}ouay {X}on catchment. {B}ased on our survey, we propose recommendations to improve or maintain stream water quality in the uplands of northern {L}ao {P}.{D}.{R}.},
  keywords = {{W}ater quality-related hazards ; {R}iparian zone ; {M}ixed land-use ; environment ; {U}plands ; {W}astewater discharges ; {L}ow flow ; {S}torm flow ; {S}uspended sediments ; {C}ommunity-level perception ; {P}eri-urban areas},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {M}anagement},
  volume = {47},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {291--302},
  ISSN = {0364-152{X}},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00267-010-9593-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053124},
}