Environmental Assessment of Industrial Water Pollution
Chapter One
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
The study attempts to examine the environmental assessment of industrial pollution in Ikeja and to evolve recommendations aimed at ameliorating the situation.
Objectives
The objectives of this study include:
- To understand what laws say about sitting in industries and environmental protection and if they are being abided by.
- To identify the laws guarding against water pollution from industries and if they are being abided by.
- To identify the implementation strategies used by public authorities in effecting laws.
- To understand the effect these pollutants could have on the environment as a whole.
- To identify the amount of pollutants being disposed into water sources.
- To identify proper disposal of industrial waste.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept of Pollution
Pollution is the introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy liable to cause hazards to human health, harm to living resource as ecological damage; or interference with legitimate uses of the environmental (Millar, 1998). Environmental pollution according to Miller (1998) is “any addition to air, water, soil or food that threatens the health, survival or activities of human or other living organism”. Such chemical or form of energy that causes harm is called pollutant. The pollutants can be solid, liquid, or gaseous products or wastes produced when a resource is extracted, processed, made into products or used. Equally, it can take the form of unwanted energy emissions, such as excessive heat or radiation (Miller Supra).
Similarly, Moronkola, (2003) states that the United Kingdom‟s Protection of Environment Act (1990) declares pollution of the environment as what is released into any environmental medium as a result of human activity which is capable of causing harm to human or other living organisms supported by the environment.
One of the greatest problems that the country is facing today is that of environmental pollution emanating from oil exploration, extraction and related activities. Environmental pollution of the physical environment is of three basic types, namely; air pollution, water pollution and soil \ land pollution.
Pollution is simply the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that could alter the normal occurrences or distort the orderliness of the system. Pollution was also defined by the European Union 1996 Council Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) as “the direct or indirect introduction as a result of human activity, of substances, vibrations, heat or noise into the air, water or land which may be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment, result in damage to material property, or impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment” (Gbehe, 2004).
Concept of Water
Ugeh (2009) stated that water is one of the renewable resources essential for sustaining all forms of life, food production, economic development, and for general well being. It is impossible to substitute for most of its uses, difficult to depollute, expensive to transport, and it is truly a unique gift to mankind from nature. Water is also one of the most manageable natural resources as it is capable of diversion, transport, storage, and recycling. All these properties impart to water its great utility for human beings. The surface water and groundwater resources of the country play a major role in agriculture, hydro power generation, livestock production, industrial activities, forestry, fisheries, navigation, recreational activities etc (Water Management Forum. 2003). The freshwater ecosystems of the world comprise only about 0.5% of the earth’s surface and have a volume of 2.84×105 Km3. Rivers constitute an insignificant amount (0.1%) of the land surface. Only 0.01% of the waters of the earth occur in river channels. Inspite of these low quantities, running waters are of enormous significance (Wetzel, 2001). Out of this, monsoon rainfall is of the order of 3000 km3. Rainfall in Nigeria is dependent on the south-west and north-east monsoons, on shallow cyclonic depressions and disturbances and on local storms (Kumar et. al., 2005). Most of it takes place under the influence of south-west monsoon between March and September (Kumar et. al., 2005). Nigeria is gifted with river system comprising of many rivers with several tributaries. Many of these rivers are perennial and some of them are seasonal.
In the last few decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the demand for freshwater due to rapid growth of population and the accelerated pace of industrialization (Ramakrishnaiah et al., 2009). Human health is threatened by most of the agricultural development activities particularly in relation to excessive application of fertilizers and unsanitary conditions (Okeke & Igboanua, 2003). Anthropogenic activities related to extensive urbanization, agricultural practices, industrialization, and population expansion have led to water quality deterioration in many parts of the world (Baig et al.2009, Mian et al., 2010, Wang et al., 2010). In addition, deficient water resources have increasingly restrained water pollution control and water quality improvement (Bu et al., 2010).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the environmental assessment of industrial water pollution. Selected residents of Ikeja LGA, Lagos State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of two hundred and sixty-six (266) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only two hundred and fifty-nine (259) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 259 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
This chapter of the study is set aside to determine summarized the descriptive analysis done in the precious chapters. It also gives the conclusion and makes some recommendation.
In summary, the purpose of this study was to carry out an environmental assessment of industrial water pollution. Specifically the study focused on understanding what the law says about sitting in industries and environmental protection and if they are being abided by, identifying the laws guarding against water pollution from industries and if they are being abided by, identifying the implementation strategies used by public authorities in effecting laws, understanding the effect these pollutants could have on the environment as a whole, identifying the amount of pollutants being disposed into water sources and, identifying ways of proper disposal of industrial waste.
In order to carry out this study research questions formulated to guard the investigation. A total of 259 residents of Ikeja LGA in Lagos State, were randomly selected as enrolled participants for the survey. The study was anchored on the deterministic theory of Cause-Effect Relationships
CONCLUSION
In the conclusion the study is beyond doubt and abundantly clear that the industrial water pollution is hazardous.
From results obtained and analyzed, the study reveals that:
- The laws about sitting industries and environmental protection are not being abided by
- The implementation strategies used by public authorities in effecting laws include:
- Promoting the use of nontoxic or less toxic substances
- Encouragement of recycling
- Proper treatment of industrial waste and
- Industries being sited at approved locations
- The effects these pollutants could have on the environment as a whole include:
- Destruction of biodiversity,
- Contamination of the food chain,
- Lack of potable water and
- Diseases
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation on the basis of findings. The researcher made the following recommendation with the belief that when studied and applied, would help to reduce the impact of water pollution on residents. The researcher recommends that:
- Environmental education should be enshrined in the school curriculum from primary to tertiary institutions to inculcate in the masses environmental friendly attitudes. Such environmental education should equally be carried out through the traditional media so as to carry along both the literate and illiterate ones in the quest for a healthy environment.
- Oil industries operating in the country should ensure regular maintenance of their equipment to avoid equipment failure and ruptures capable of spewing thousands of barrels of oil unto the land and under ground waters. In case of oil spill, immediate clean up of the environment should be carried out while processes of remediation should commence without delay
- Residents should avoid illegal activities such as bunkering and artisanal refining which are major causes of water pollution in the area. Also, they should avoid sabotaging oil facilities in the area bearing in mind that in case of oil spill it is them that suffers the consequences. Dialogue with oil industries operating in the area should be their watchword in case of threatening situations.
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