The Pollution Effects of Indiscriminate Disposal of Wastewater on Soil in Semi-Urban Area

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The disposal of wastewater is a problem of great concern throughout the world specifically in developing countries. This study investigates the impact of indiscriminate wastewater disposal on soil in Akindeko and Abiola halls of residence at the Federal University of Technology, Akure Nigeria. Soil samples were taken from the wastewater disposal site at the surface and varying depths of 10 cm and 20 cm while the control samples were taken 10 m away from the polluted soil surface. Physico-chemical and bacteriological properties determined include; colour, odour, soil weight, particle weight, bulk density, porosity, pH, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, Cobalt, Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, bacteria, fungi and coliforms. The results showed that all the physicochemical and bacteriological properties of the soils have relatively high concentration indicating pollution compared to the control samples. The pH ranged from 8.7 to 7.2 while Ca and K have a range of 1277 ppm to 773 ppm and 1273 ppm to 754 ppm respectively. The highest concentration of Zn and Mn are19.30 ppm and 11.70 ppm respectively. It is recommended that a sustainable wastewater treatment plant should be provided to treat all wastewater generated from all hall of residence in the university and at the same time the soils in the area require various remediation technologies like bioremediation and phytoremediation by growing certain plants in the area to minimize the rate of contamination and extent of future pollution problems. This will go a long way in preventing environmental pollution in the study area. © JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem/v19i3.10

Appraisal of on-Site Sanitation Facilities and Solid Waste Management in Public Places Within Akure Municipality, Nigeria

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A GIS–AHP-based approach in siting MSW landfills in Lokoja, Nigeria

“…A pertinent issue which is related to environmental management via proper supervision and control of solid waste, pollution and health risks which arise in open dumping sites that are often commonly used for waste disposal is termed solid waste management (SWM) [1][2][3][4]. The menace of environmental pollution ensuing from indiscriminate waste disposal through open and poor waste disposal techniques has been a threat to the inhabitants of most developing countries [5][6][7], and its harmful effects on the (soil and water) environment and human health are considered to be frightening [8][9][10][11]. Throughout history, the commonest technique of organized waste disposal has been landfills and it has remained so in several places worldwide.…”

Qualitative Assessment of Some Available Water Resources in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State Nigeria

“…Water along with air, is one of the two most critical components for life, with shortage of water in our bodies, we cannot physically behave well and deprived of drinking water, we would die within three to seven days; as seventy percent of the human body is water (Cartwright, 2015). Water has been considered as a global heritage which everyone should have a non-negotiable social and political right to (Akali et al, 2014;Ajibade et al, 2015) but it is unfortunate that this precious commodity has been politically and socially influenced by several factors resulting in an uneven distribution of it. In fact, Babatola and Oguntuase (2008) and Ele (2013) put forward that the world is experiencing shortage of fresh water.…”

“…According to WHO, diseases related to drinking-water contamination or pollution represent a major burden on human health and the interventions to improve the quality of drinking-water provide significant benefits to health (WHO, 2006). Water pollution has turned out to be a major problem in most developing countries of the world and this primarily occurs as a result of the indiscriminate disposal of untreated effluents and other wastes (Nair and Kani, 2017;Adewumi and Ajibade, 2015;Ajibade et al, 2014). People are left with no choice but to drink polluted water because they have no alternatives (Mukesh, 2012).…”