Use of Water Quality Index and Pesticides‐Related Human Health Risk Assessment for Evaluating the Surface Water Sustainability Status of the Kakia‐Esamburmbur Agricultural Watershed, Narok County, Kenya

Abstract The increase in water contaminants threatens ecosystems and human health, underscoring the need for effective water quality (WQ) control. This study assessed the Kakia‐Esamburmbur catchment’s water sustainability status for drinking purposes by analyzing water samples from the catchment. In‐depth physical, chemical, and microbiological investigations were undertaken using a dual approach. This entailed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) for domestic uses and applying a health risk assessment model. The study revealed that turbidity, total viable bacteria, fecal coliforms, and