Effects of Industrial Effluents on Stream Water Quality in Onitsha Urban Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Effects of Industrial Effluents on Stream Water Quality in Onitsha Urban Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Chapter One

AIM AND OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of industrial effluents on stream water quality in Onitsha urban area of Anambra State, Nigeria. To achieve this aim, the following objectives will be pursued to;

Identify the sources of effluents and describe how effluents are disposed by the industries in Onitsha urban area.
Characterize the physico-chemical and microbiological properties of the effluents generated by the industries in the study area.
Assess the effects of the industrial effluents on the stream water quality within the study area
Highlight the health implications of surface water contamination by industrial effluents and suggest management strategies which can prevent or minimize stream water contamination by industrial effluents in the study area.

CHAPTER TWO

SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS AND METHODS OF THEIR DISPOSAL IN THE STUDY AREA

Categories and Locations of Sampled Industries

Industries in the study area were found to be largely located in the various industrial layouts scattered in the western, central and southern end of the urban landscape. Many of the industries are located very close to residential areas. The industrial layouts are as follows: Harbour Industrial layout, Niger bridge Industrial layout, Odume industrial layout and Ogidi and Nkpor industrial areas. The spatial distribution of these industral layouts is shown in Figure 7.

These industrial layouts are homes to various categories of industries including; (1)Food, Beverage and Tobacco Industries (2) Chemical, Paint and Allied Products Industries (3)Plastic Foam and Rubber Industries (4) Breweries, Bottling Companies and Distillery Industries; (5) Aluminium and Metals industries; (6) Printing, Paper and Publishing and Photographic Industries (7) Pharmaceutical Industries (8) Cosmetics, Soap and Detergent industries.

CHAPTER THREE

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISCHARGED EFFLUENTS

Introduction

As noted in chapter one, effluents samples were collected from the industrial chutes before the effluents left the industrial sites. The analyses below reveal the Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of the collected effluent samples.

Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Discharged Effluents

The results of the laboratory analysis of the liquid effluents collected from the various industries are summarized in Table 9. The samples were collected during the period of heaviest activity corresponding to the highest volume of discharge for all the industries. The fieldwork involves taking samples at points where effluents were discharged within the industrial sites for analysis. Akan et al, (2007) use this approach in their own study. The samples were transported, preserved and analyzed using recommended methods (WHO, 2002)

CHAPTER FOUR

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARATERISTICS OF SURFACE WATER RECEIPIENTS OF EFFLUENTS AT CONTROL AND DISCHARGE LOCATIONS

Physico-chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Water Samples at Control Locations

In order to assess the effects of discharged effluents on the quality of stream water, we first determined the quality of the recipients’ surface waters at control locations ie the quality status of the stream waters before contact with effluents .This was done at about 500 meters before contact with effluents. A summary of the physcio-chemical and microbiological parameters obtained at the three different control sampling sites are presented in Table 11.

CHAPTER FIVE

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF SURFACE WATER CONTAMINATION BY EFFLUENTS IN THE STUDY AREA.

Lower water quality has the potential of becoming a threat in drinking water if such water is consumed. The WHO guidelines for drinking water stipulated specific acceptable and safety limits for drinking water. Deviations from these limits usually have health implications due to either elevations or reductions in the level and nature of these parameters. The health implications of the parameters whose values were outside the allowable limits recommended by the (WHO) in the study area are discussed below:

Health Implications of Elevated Temperature in Water

The mean temperature of water samples in the surface waters in the study area was found to be 26⁰C. The mean temperature of the water samples receiving effluents directly from industries is 28.75⁰C. The temperature at effluent discharge location was found to be 26⁰C for Krisoral at Niger River and 30⁰C for New York photos at Nkisi River. This level is above the WHO acceptable limit and hence poses health risks (WHO, 2011). High temperature in drinking water enhances the growth of microorganisms particularly in hot climate countries (WHO, 1993; CSU, 1996) and also increase the toxicity of many substances such as heavy metals in water which can affect human health. The effects of elevated temperature also include intestinal irritation and muscle clamp (Akande and Kumuji, 2008; Ocheje, 2014).

CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Summary of the Research Findings

A summary of the major findings drawn from this work is stated below:

(A) The sources of industrial effluents and methods of their disposal in the study area were identified and were categorized into eight viz-a-viz: (1) Food, Beverage and Tobacco Industries (2) Chemical, Paint and Allied Products Industries (3) Plastic Foam and Rubber Industries (4) Breweries; Pharmaceutical Industries (5) Printing, Paper and Publishing Industries (6) Cosmetics, Soap and Detergent industries and (8) Aluminium and Metals industres. The methods of the effluent disposal by the industries studied were also highlighted and showed that majority of the industries discharge their waste water into the stream water bodies without treatment.

(B) Nineteen samples were analyzed and the physico-chemical and microbiological characteritics of the effluents discharged into stream water bodies in the study area were discussed. It was observed that parameters like Pb, Cr, Fe, Na, Cu, Zn, THC, TCG which contributed in pollution of the stream waters were identified from the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters.

(C) Water quality index of the sampled water bodies were discussed in the study. The WQI showed that most of the stream water bodies in the study area were highly polluted to a large extent. The analyses of the influence of the discharged liquid effluents on the water quality of the surface water at the discharge locations indicated that the WQI for the three water bodies were very poor.

(D) Finally, the health implications of the surface water contamination by industrial effluents in the study area and the reported cases of water-borne diseases were highlighted in the study. The findings show that some cases of ill-health in the study area were water-borne. Finally, the planning implications and management plan for a healthier environment were discussed in the study.

Recommendations.

Our research findings clearly show that the stream water quality in Onitsha urban area has been negatively impacted by the poor management of industrial effluents. Based on the findings of this research and their subsequent implications, we make the following recommendations for an effective management of the water quality of the study area:

Every effluent generating industry must be made to install a mini-waste treatment plant within its facility. The industries should cooperate with the government in solving some of the problems identified in this work as a way of showing cooperate social responsibility.
Also, the government should consider building a collective waste water treatment facility with the cooperation of the industries operating in the study area as a way of making industries in the state contribute to the solution of the problems. This will ensure proper waste management by industries since they are made to contribute to the cleanliness of the environment.
The State Government needs to institute viable ways of monitoring both the surface and ground water bodies in order to build up data base for the planning of her water resources. The obtained data is to be translated into Water Quality Indices (WQI) that can be understood and appreciated by the populace.
Anambra state government should take more seriously the waste management systems and make/enforce laws against pollution especially for dangerous chemical effluents from industries.
Anambra state government should ensure that the concerned officials of the health departments should report results as and when the water quality deviates from the World Health Organization and National Standards for Water Quality specifications to the government and the concerned public.

Conclusion

This research work has shown that most of the industries did not abide by the WHO standards of (2011) as bench mark for their activities in Onitsha urban area of Anambra State Nigeria. Unfortunately, the regulators such as the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) had not effectively enforced the minimum environmental management standards. The results of the physico-chemical and microbiological analysis show that the surface waters in Onitsha urban area are polluted and this could be hazardous to human health when used primarily for domestic purposes. Industrial effluents are major sources of environmental pollution through the discharge of the effluents into surface water bodies. This study is an eye-opener to the consumers, manufacturers and the professionals in the health care system due to possible direct or cumulative effects it may cause to the general public.

Even though industries contribute significantly to economic growth and development in the areas where they operate, it has been proven that their activities negatively affect the welfare of man and the ecosystems especially where these are not regulated properly.

We conclude based on the findings that industrial effluent management is lacking in the study area and it is an indication of governance failure. The Anambra State government has not been effective in regulation, monitoring of industrial effluent disposal mechanisms in the study area and sanctioning of defaulters of the State environmental laws. Thus, this research posits that among other things, quality urban governance is indispensable to industrial effluent management.

Suggestion for Further Studies

This research work did not cover several aspects on water which were not within the scope of this study. Hence, further works in the following areas should be examined:

A study on seasonal effects of industrial effluents on the surface water bodies in Onitsha Urban Area.
A study on the effects of land use activities on the quality of surface water bodies in Onitsha Urban Area.

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