CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

DOMESTIC BASED WATER POLLUTION

HOME BASED WATER POLLUTION:
This is caused by an increasing population
that lack adequate sewage and waste disposal
in different localities. In most houses, only
toilet waste is discharged through a septic
system, all other household liquids are
discharged directly to storm drains where
they exist or into the street. Most
government treated drinking water pipes
that are connected into this storm drains
sometimes get burst because of these human
activities and get contaminated, therefore
making the water unhygienic for
consumption.
For example, In Lagos state, which is made
up of a population of more than 12 million
do not have a central sewage system but
rather dumped all waste into a lagoon. The
people depend on this same lagoon and sea
for fishery activities.
Land disposal of solid waste also creates an Source: https://bkraxberger.wordpress.com/tag/port-au-prince/
important source of ground water pollution.
CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

LOCAL MARKET INDUCED WATER

POLLUTION:
Local markets refer to shops,
supermarkets, road side markets that
are operated by sellers of different food
items and cosmetics, where rural
dwellers and their city associates
gather for buying and selling of farm
produces, cattles, poultry and other
household materials. These types of
markets constitute 90% of the markets
available in Nigeria.
Abattoirs market found in different
areas like Agbado, Lagos State, Awe,
Oyo State perform anti-sanitation
functions like pouring of blood, faeces
and related wastes from animal
slaughter into the gutters (drainage
system). The final destinations of these Source: http://www.pilotafrica.com/2010/05/26/this-is-lagos/
gutters are rivers, lakes, hand dug wells
and reservoirs used by people as
sources of household water.
CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

LOCAL MARKET INDUCED WATER POLLUTION

Chukwu (2008) reported a study on the ground water
pollution from abattoir waste in Minna state. He found out
that the analysed wells showed physical, chemical and
organic parameters that exceed the upper boundaries set by
World Health Organization (WHO). The water was generally
hard, containing elevated concentrations of CaCO3, MgCO3,
sulphates, nitrates, phosphates and heavy metals.
Adeleye and Adebiyi (2003) state that elevated heavy metals
concentration that is some more than one thousand(1000)
times the permissible limits in drinking water, had been
reported from Oko-oba abattoir, Lagos state.
Further studies on the waste has raised serious public health
concerns, as bacteria such as E.coli, Bacillus sp, and
Staphylococcus sp etc. were frequently detected.
 CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

OIL SPILL BASED WATER POLLUTION: Oil

spillage is as a result of leakage of hydrocarbon
from the pipes. Poor maintenance of oil pipelines
and poor monitoring of pressure regimes of fluids
are the main causes of spillage. This has led to
several deaths and destruction of properties
especially in Niger-Delta areas like Delta State,
Port-Harcourt, and Bayelsa.
Production of oil and gas is usually accompanied
by substantial discharge of wastewater in the form
of brines (that is, sodium, calcium, boron etc.).
Based on the activities (gas flaring) of various oil
companies like the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas
Company (NLG) in Bonny , Port Harcourt, rain
water is no longer fit for human consumption due
to the contamination of rain(acid rain) and ground
water.
According to the Department of Petroleum
Resources(DPR), for the period of 1976 to 1996
indicate that approximately 6%, 25%, and 69%
respectively, of total oil spilled in the Niger Delta
area, were in land, swamp and offshore
environments.
Between 1997 and 2001, Nigeria recorded a total
number of 2,097 oil spill incidents. Source: http://integritynigeria.org/oil-exploitation-marine-
pollution-evidence-niger-delta-nigeria-s-o-aghalino-b-eyinla-
journal-human-ecology/
 CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION
This is a single largest user of freshwater
on a global basis and as a major cause of
degradation of surface and groundwater
resources through erosion and chemical
runoff, has cause to be concerned about
the global implications of water quality.
Agriculture was a major source of income
of Nigeria before oil was discovered in
1950s but still is the major source income
to majority of populace in the Northern
part of the country who mostly rely on
rivers, streams and boreholes water as
their source of drinking water.
A wide range of contaminants like,
artificial fertilizer residues, insecticides,
herbicides, pesticides and animal waste
can reach these rivers, lakes and streams
either by groundwater or through
drainage all of which are potentially very
harmful to aquatic organisms most
especially the Fishes and Man.
Source: https://www.usaid.gov/nigeria/agriculture-and-
food-security
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

The major effects of water pollution in Nigerian communities

are socio-economic, health and environmental problems.
Polluted water containing sediments and parasites is very
expensive to be treated to the desired standard for any
household or even industrial application. This has led to the
high mortality rate of children and new born babies in the
country.
Water related diseases such as cholera, guinea worm, malaria
and typhoid fever are the most common causes of illness and
death, affecting mainly poor inhabitants in the local
communities.
Heavy metals poisoning as a result of absorption in
contaminated water or through associated food has posed
serious health and environmental problem in Nigeria.
 EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION
SURVEY ON HEALTH EFFECT OF WATER POLLUTION IN NIGERIA
YEAR DISEASE CASES DEATH AREA DATA SOURCE
1997-1998 Salmonella 635 - LAGOS HEALTH
typhi (young- INSTITUTIONS
adults)
2009 HEPATITIS 19MILLION - NIGERIA SOCIETY FOR
GASTROENTER
OLOGY AND
HERPETOLOG
Y
2010 CHOLERA 29115 1191 15 STATES www.eurojourn
INCLUDIN als.com/ejsr.ht
G ABUJA m
2010 LEAD - 400 7 www.eurojourn
POISONING CHILDR VILLAGES als.com/ejsr.ht
EN AROUND m
GUMMI
LGA
ZAMFARA
STATE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

It is clearly seen that water pollution is an ongoing problem in most

of the Nigerian communities, especially villages that are ignored by
the government. This tragedy is seriously crippling human
development, therefore, proper identification of preventive and
control measures are very important.
The main way forward is
To properly educate the local people on the important of water
sanitation and good waste disposal methods.
Establishment of water treatment plants.
Good regulatory strategies.
Oil pollution problems could be successfully addressed by
ensuring that corruption-free safety and operability procedures
are implemented by all oil stakeholders.
Tax and fines should be imposed on industries and people that
pollute the environment.