QUALITY OF RAINWATER HARVESTED IN CISTERNS IN ONICHA-UGBO, ANIOCHA-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
QUALITY OF RAINWATER HARVESTED IN CISTERNS IN ONICHA-UGBO, ANIOCHA-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2015-09
Authors
UDEMEZUE, Chinonso Edwin
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Abstract
Rainwater harvesting despite being an ancient practice in many parts of the world has very
limited use as a source of potable water, primarily because the quality of stored rainwater in
domestic tanks (cisterns) is not believed to meet drinking water quality standards. This study was
aimed at assessing the level of potability of harvested rainwater in rainwater harvesting cisterns
in Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha-North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. The main
objectives were to determine the concentrations of turbidity, pH, colour, TDS, TSS, COD, BOD,
DO and total coliform count in the harvested rainwater samples and to compare them with the
World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water Quality
(NSDWQ) prescribed guidelines. Harvested rainwater samples were collected from twenty (20)
different cisterns across the four quarters of the study area in the months of February (dry season
sampling) and April (rainy season sampling) respectively. The harvested rainwater samples were
analyzed with the most appropriate equipment and analytical techniques as recommended by the
WHO and the NSDWQ in Nigeria. Simple descriptive statistic was employed to ascertain
whether differences exist amongst the harvested rainwater samples collected during the dry and
rainy seasons respectively. Results obtained indicated the following: most of the physico
chemical characteristics of the harvested rainwater samples were generally within the WHO
(2010) and NSDWQ (2007) acceptable limits for drinking water. As such, the harvested
rainwater characteristics showed satisfactory physicochemical levels in the study area. However,
pH levels of the harvested rainwater samples were below the minimum acceptable limits of 6.5
as prescribed by the WHO and NSDWQ, hence treatment is needed in terms of the pH. Also,
coliform bacteria were observed in all the harvested rainwater samples in the study. Although the
levels of coliform bacteria didn‟t meet the WHO drinking water specifications of 0cfu/100ml, it
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fell within the 10cfu/100ml permissible limit as prescribed by the NSDWQ. Similarly, the
Pollution index (pi) of the physicochemical and bacteriological water quality parameters reveals
a „no significant degree of pollution‟ for all the harvested rainwater samples in the study area
using the water quality specifications by the NSDWQ. However, it indicates a significant degree
of pollution for total coliform when making reference to the WHO water quality guidelines.
Consequently, it is recommended that harvested rainwater in cisterns in the study area should
undergo simple purification/disinfection techniques such as boiling and liming before
consumption.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSC) DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Keywords
RAINWATER,, CISTERNS,, ONICHA-UGBO,, ANIOCHA-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ,, DELTA STATE,