A comprehensive review of water quality monitoring and assessment in Nigeria. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ighalo, Joshua O.; Adeniyi, Adewale George
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 260(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Groundwater -- Nigeria -- Rainwater -- Surface water -- Water quality -- Water pollution; BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand -- COD Chemical Oxygen Demand -- DO Dissolved Oxygen -- EC Electrical Conductivity -- ECs emerging Contaminants -- FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation -- GIS Geographical Information System -- IoT Internet of Things -- NAFDAC National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control -- NNPC Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation -- NSDWQ The Nigerian Standard for Water Quality -- NSF National Sanitation Foundation -- PAHs Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons -- PhACs Pharmaceutically Active Compounds -- SDGs Sustainable Development Goals -- SON Standard Organisation of Nigeria -- SS Suspended Solids -- TA Total Alkalinity -- TDS Total Dissolved Solids -- TH Total Hardness -- TS Total Solid -- TSS Total Suspended Solids -- USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency -- WHO World Health Organisation; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Nigeria is the most populated black nation in the world with about 199 million people. About 66.3 million Nigerians do not have access to safe drinking water. In this study, research findings on water quality monitoring and assessment in Nigeria over the past two decades were systematically reviewed. There are still grave enforcement issues in Nigeria as quality guidelines are still being contravened at no cost to the infringer due to the corrupt socio-political circumstances of the country. The quality of surface water, groundwater, rainwater and commercially available water was discussed in line with their pollution sources. The quality of surface water was generally poor. Groundwater pollution has come due to landfill leachate, oil and gas exploration and production, sewage and hydrogeological interactions of the groundwater with the base rock. The hydrogeological effect has led to the observation of lead and barium in groundwater in many locations across the country. The main issue with rainwater in Nigeria is the low pH but it was observed to be fairly clean. Commercially available water (bottled or sachet) is currently the best source of drinking water for the Nigerian populace. Bottled water quality is higher than for sachet water and the latter largely influenced by microbe contamination. Future perspectives in water quality monitoring and assessment are suggested in the evaluation of emerging contaminants and micro-pollutants and the utilisation of internet-enabled technologies. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Research in the past two decades (2000–2020) on water quality assessment in Nigeria were considered. Rainwater was cleaner than surface and groundwater sources in most parts. Commercially available water is currently the best drinking water source in Nigeria. Internet-enabled technologies can be harnessed for water quality monitoring.