Domestic Wastewater Pollution and Impacts on Coral Reefs in Kenya’s Malindi-Watamu Seascape

This January, WCS Kenya Marine Program, through the GFCR-funded Miamba Yetu: Sustainable Reef Investments Programme, conducted a wastewater pollution assessment on coral reefs in the Malindi-Watamu Seascape with an aim to match market-based pipeline solutions with threats. The study, carried out with Sanivation, Pwani University, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, revealed that over 75% of Malindi’s waste is unmanaged—posing a major risk to coral reefs. Samples near a local dumpsite showed the highest levels of enterococci, signaling severe fecal contamination.

Sanivation, a key pipeline solution, is developing waste collection systems designed to reduce groundwater and reef pollution. These evidence-based findings will guide the scaling and replication of wastewater solutions not only in Kenya, but potentially in neighboring Tanzania.