[Thesis]: ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF LOWER USUMA-DAM IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL ABUJA

 

ABSTRACT

The place of water as an essential of life is so central that without it, life cannot exist. An imperative issue relating to it quality and availability command equal importance, evident n the fact that for sometimes now it has been an issue of ever-growing global concern. Perhaps, for a country to be said to have attained development, it must have been done with it “water problem”. But unfortunately this is not the case with most developing countries. Moreover, the objective of the study were to assess the quality of the dam by looking at some of its physical, chemical and biological parameters with an attempt to finding out if the general quality conforms to or deviates from the WHO standards for drinking water, and finally to mitigate the consequences on the health implication of such users of water. Ten samples were taken collected and analysed in the laboratory. The result was used to detail out the cause and effect on man and his environment of which the result was compare with WHO baseline. The study revealed that most of the elements investigated fell below the maximum contaminant levels set by the WHO except for some few elements which have less effect. From the analysis the study concluded that the dam water deliver for consumption was within the safe limits for human consumption as it show conformity to WHO recommendations, lines of similarities and differences were discovered between the quality statuses of the untreated water show higher contaminance than the untreated water. There were neglegiable percentage of harmful element like Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese and Fluoride but Lead is absent in the sample water. The used of statistical technique was applied to test relationship and obtain result that it will guide the research in conducting his finding. Based on the findings some recommendation were made to improved the existing water quality situation in the area council due to short in supply the should built me additional treatment plan, monitory local sources and catchment areas, constant research and analysis about the integrated approach that generate body information and results that will enable appropriate and crucial decision to be taken.  In conclusion Routine Inspection on private system and to assist residents with on the statuesque of their drinking water quality.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Water is the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H₂O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent (encyclopedia Britannica 2011)

Water is the basis of life and therefore the development of water resources management is crucial in every aspect of life.  Water make possible as without it life and civilization cannot develop or survive.  Perhaps water form the largest part of most living matter.  An average man is two-third water and would weight only 13kg when completely without water (Ayoade, 1988).

However, apart from air that we breathe, water is the most important element to mankind.  They can survive longer without food, than without water.  Dry air extracts 1.2 kg of this substance from the human body daily and this must be replaced. Every adult needs an average of about two litres of water a day as food or drink (Ayoade, 1988 and More, 1972).

Nevertheless, water is essential for the well-being of mankind and for sustainable development.  Safe drinking water is a basic human right essential to all and moreover, drinking water must be water of highest quality. Though water is necessary for human survival, many are denied access to sufficient portable drinking water supply and sufficient water to maintain basic hygiene.

Drinking of contaminated water results in thousands of death everyday; this occurs mostly among children under five years of age, in most developing countries (WHO, 2004).  Unfortunately studies have shown that globally 1.1 billion people rely on unsafe drinking water sources from lakes, rivers and open wells.  The majority of these areas are in Asia (20%) and in sub-Saharan Africa (42%), (Jabu, 2006).  Water is a renewable and a precious resources but the activity of human on the surface of the earth has directly or indirectly affected the quantity and quality of this precious resource.

 Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year, and results in 2.2 million deaths, mostly of children under five. This means that 15% of child deaths each year are attributable to diarrhea – a child dying every 15 seconds. In India alone, the single largest cause of ill health and death among children is diarrhea, which kills nearly half a million children each year. (WHO and UNICEF 2000)

Awake (2001) observed that access to a secure, safe and sufficient source of fresh water is a fundamental requirement for the survival, well-being and socio-economic development of all humanity.  Tebbutt (1990) also noted that a reliable and safe supply of water is a necessary pre-requisite for a healthy and permanent community.  He added that safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are primary requirement for a good standard of living.

The quest for effective means to improve, control and protect the quality of water in order to improve the quality of life for all Nigerians has been the primary concern of the researcher.  Water related issues such as damming treatment and distribution has become extremely important everywhere around the world due to population growth, growing urbanization health, and environmental pollution of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) of which lead to the establishment of Usuma Dam.  The researcher has a keen interest in knowing the quality, and standard of the water used by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).  Assessment of water quality mean the utility of water is limited by its quality which make it unsuitable for particular uses.  Assessment of water quality is therefore an important aspect of water resources evaluation (Ayoade, 1988).  As part of the water resource survey, available data on water quality should be collected and to most important characteristic, chemical characteristic and biological characteristics.

From the foregoing, water quality posses a challenge worth investigation.  It is on this basis that the present study set itself the task of assessing the quality of water in lower Usuma Dam of Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

 

1.2              PROBLEM DEFINITION STATEMENT

Water as an enviable resource is greatly needed by man for virtually all his activities whereas, its quality for domestic consumption can be over emphasize suffice to say that domestic water should be water of highest quality, while water mean for other form of uses can be of good quality (Eziashi, 2009).  The United National Millennium development Goals (MDGs) under one of it target is the need to reduce by 50% the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015 (Millennium Project, 2006).  The idea of safe drinking water places a lot of concern on the quality of water in question.

The challenge face the Usuma dam due to relocation of all ministries, government agencies and diplomatic representative to Abuja, the capital of FCT, has triggered major growth of this city.  The population was 2.1 million in 1998 and is expected to reach 5 million by 2035.  This requires rapid development of infrastructures and services; increase water demand has become a priority issue which gave birth to inter-basin transfer from Gurara project.

The present urban water demand of Abuja and its satellite towns is 201,000m³/dayand it is expected to increase to about 1,000,000m3/day by year 2035.  At present, all the portable water for FCT come from a treatment plant downstream of the Lower Usuma reservoir, located 20km north of the capital city.  This comprises two unit of 5,000m3/h, phase 1 & 2.  Extension to six treatment units, up to 30,000m3/h, phase 3 and were launched in December 2005, in order to give to Usuma Plant the capacity to treat the additional raw water supplied from Gurara Project.  The Gurara water Transfer project was identified as a sustainable, cost-effect and most feasible option for supplying water to the FCT.  The project is an inter-basin water transfer which consist of catching the river flow from Gurara river with a Dam located 75km North east of Abuja and conveying it by gravity into the lower Usuma reservoir to supplement the inflow in Usuma basin, through a 75km long and 3m diameter steel conveyance pipeline.  The project was launched in 2000 by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources as an urgent priority.

Base on the above stated problem, the investigator poses a lot of questions.

(i)                 What is the quality of water in Lower Usuma Dam area?

(ii)               Are there any human or Natural (geologic) factors that affect the quality of water in the dam.

(iii)             Are there spatial variation in the quality due to transfer processes and distribution within the FCT.

(iv)             After procurement and treatment is the quality of the water reaching the consumer the same or there is variation due to (transfer) conveying to the down stream users.

(v)               What possible intervention measures could be employed to protect the water from contamination?

(vi)             After treatment is the quality having the standard parameters with WHO, SON and USEPA.

 

1.3              AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to examine or assess the physical, chemical and biological quality of water and its suitability for human consumption in Usuma Dam and some Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The specific objectives of the study include:

(i)                 To determine the parameter of water quality in Usuma Dam (the study areas).

(ii)               To determine the spatial variation in water     quality due to distribution.

(iii)             To determine factors that may affect the Dam water after treatment and the possible health effects on human being.

(iv)             To compare water quality in the study area with universal standard set by regulatory bodies (SON, WHO and UNESCO) for domestic water use and consumption.

(v)               To suggest possible ways to the management and protection of water quality to policy makers and non-professional in the field of water resources management.

 

1.4              HYPOTHESES

The research is primarily concerned with the investigation of water quality of Lower Usuma Dam and its spatial variation in the Federal Capital Territory.  Above given are the aim and objective of the study, which gave birth to the hypotheses postulated.

(a)                Ho:      Usuma Dam water quality does not vary significantly.

Hi:       Usuma Dam water quality varies significantly.

(b)               Ho:      There is no significant relation between the water quality in the dam and the water quality treated (storage).

Hi:       There is significant relation between water quality in the dam and the water quality treated.

(c)                Ho:      There is no significant relation between water quality at Bwari and the water quality at Kubuwa.

Hi:       There is a significant relation between water quality at Bwari and the water quality at Kubuwa.

 

1.5              SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Water, next to air, is the most important need of man.  Charley (1978) observed that water and life are inseparable since without it, life would not be possible.  Water owes this unique position to the fact that apart from mercury, it is the only organic substance, which is liquid at normal temperatures and pressures. However, the lattice structure of hydrogen bridges, which makes water a liquid instead of a gas, also confers an extensive potential for forming ionic solutions.  Thus, in nature, it is rare to fine absolutely pure water.

Furthermore, assessment of the quality of natural water of an area is important for various reasons.  Knowledge of water quality is fundamental in the impact assessment of the water resources of an area.  Moreover, the result of the study would be found useful in determination of the various uses to which dam water in the study area can be classified according to its universal standard.  The study shown the viability of the area in terms of agriculture and other viable economic activities.  The Usuma dam has provision of recreation activities at festive period and people use to swim and host picnic at the North east of the Dam.fishing is a predorminant economic activities in the dam

This study would yield reliable data on the spatial variation in the water quality of the dam.  The study will offer suggestion and advice on how to improve the potential of the natural endowment of the lower Usuma Dam.  Improved water quality supply will in turn reduce the hazards associated with poor quality and thereby improve the health and living standard of the inhabitants of the study area.  In addition, the study shall identify factors that affect the water quality of the dam and find ways of mitigating it.

Nevertheless, the study is a stepping stone for water manager to build on water quality data acquisition which is a pre-requisite in the formulation and verification of water quality models which is an important input in water resource planning and management.

Finally, the result of the present study would also contribute to the available literature in the field of hydrology and water resource management, and therefore would be found useful for future research in both fields.

 

1.6              THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study covered the lower Usuma dam and some selected area within the municipal areas which Kubuwa under Bwari Area Council, Kubuwa, Ushapa, Usuma Dam, part of Central area.  Sample of water were taken from the various sources of storage within the area Council.

The quality of any water depends on the physical, chemical and biological composition of the water.  According to World Health Organization (1963, 1993 and 2004), the most important characteristics that determine the qualities of any given water are:

i.                    Physical characteristics made up of colour, clarity, taste, ordour, temperature and amount of suspend solids.

ii.                  Chemical characteristic which include PH, total hardness, dissolved solid, presence of toxic substance, metallic and non-metallic constituents as well as organic chemical constituents.

iii.                Biological characteristic such as coliform counts, algae counts, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)( and dissolved oxygen, among others.

The quality of surface water is stable over time as it is predominantly determined by the chemical composition of the soil and erosion materials (debris).  However, Dam water, which are the focus of the present study, are situated along river channels and near agricultural land used, hence, the need for biological test to examine how poor sanitation practice and other human activities impact on the Dam.  These three most important determinants of water quality form the scope of the study.

Some test would not be carried due to financial and time constraints.

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